Gtk+ /Gnome Application Development - Softcover

Pennington, Havoc

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0735700788 ISBN 13: 9780735700789

Publisher: Sams, 1999

Synopsis

This title is for the reader who is conversant with the C programming language and UNIX/Linux development. It provides detailed and solution-oriented information designed to meet the needs of programmers and application developers using the GTK+/Gnome libraries. Coverage complements existing GTK+/Gnome documentation, going into more depth on pivotal issues such as uncovering the GTK+ object system, working with the event loop, managing the Gdk substrate, writing custom widgets, and mstering GnomeCanvas.

About this title

Review

Part of the open-source initiative, the GNU Network Object Model Environment, or Gnome, provides a powerful development framework for building applications in Linux/Unix using C. When combined with GTK+, a user interface library that simplifies graphics programming, you have a nearly unbeatable combination, one that is growing in popularity with developers for building leading-edge interfaces in Linux. GTK+/Gnome Application Development provides a handy reference to these two important packages. Clearly presented, this book is a fine resource for any Linux/Unix C programmer who wants to use these two toolkits.

The book is strongest at presenting the APIs for each aspect of Gnome/GTK+, as well as covering the underlying libraries and tools (such as glib and Xlib). There is also a good guide to getting started with these packages with installation advice. Topic by topic, the author presents the essential APIs for each aspect of Gnome and GTK+. There's good coverage of events (or signals) and graphics programming (including pixmaps), as well as built-in and custom widgets. This is reference-oriented work, designed to get you to essential APIs quickly. Rather than complete programs, this book concentrates on useful code excerpts and API listings. (Several more comprehensive code examples are included in appendices.)

It's sometimes hard to see the forest for the trees when it comes to Unix/Linux documentation. GTK+/Gnome Development provides essential information about these two powerful packages in a compact format. This book fills a valuable niche by putting Gnome and GTK+ into the hands of the working C developer. --Richard Dragan

Topics covered: Gnome and GTK+ overview, glib basics, source trees and GNU documentation, Gnome application basics, adding toolbars and statusbars, dialog boxes, GTK+ objects and types, graphics and fonts, glib and Xlib basics, GTK widgets and canvas classes, signals, pixmaps, building custom widgets, and GTK+ and Gnome API reference.

About the Author

Havoc Pennington started programming with GTK+ before version 1.0 was released and became an active Gnome developer a few months after the project began. He is the author of several components of the Gnome libraries and some small Gnome utilities. His current free software projects include a data analysis program called Guppi and a Gnome front-end to the Debian GNU/Linux package management tool. Havoc is also the author of a free tutorial for new Debian users and is a frequent contributor to the GTK and Gnome mailing lists. He is currently employed by EMC Capital Management, Inc., writing Gnome software for internal use.

Edition details

• Publisher: Sams
• Publication date: 1999
• ISBN 10: 0735700788
• ISBN 13: 9780735700789
• Binding: Paperback
• Language: English
• Number of pages: 528