Tkinter VS PyQt

[siansoft]

:) Hi all

What is the best choice for GUI Tkinter or PyQt to use for my python application?

Thank you

[metulburr]

It all depends on what you want to do. As well as preference in which one you would choose. TRy both and see which one you prefer.

[nilamo]

I think qt looks better, but tk is easier to get started with. wx and gtk are also good choices.

tk is built into python, with any others you'll need to download additional packages, so that could be a consideration.

[metulburr]

tk is built into python

This is true to windows. But not some linux distros.

[buran]

Another point to consider with Qt is the license and the respective Qt binding (i.e. PyQt vs PySide)

[nilamo]

tk is built into python

This is true to windows. But not some linux distros.

Well, the linux package managers make it extremely easy to add parts of a language you want, so it makes sense that things aren't always included by default.

[Larz60+]

Hello,

Install Pmw (pip install Pmw), and try the following code (From graysons book, modified for python 3). It will show what can be done with tkinter.

from tkinter import *
import Pmw


class SLabel(Frame):
    """ SLabel defines a 2-sided label within a Frame. The
        left hand label has blue letters the right has white letters
    """

    def __init__(self, master, leftl, rightl):
        Frame.__init__(self, master, bg='gray40')
        self.pack(side=LEFT, expand=YES, fill=BOTH)
        Label(self, text=leftl, fg='steelblue1',
              font=("arial", 6, "bold"), width=5, bg='gray40').pack(
            side=LEFT, expand=YES, fill=BOTH)
        Label(self, text=rightl, fg='white',
              font=("arial", 6, "bold"), width=1, bg='gray40').pack(
            side=RIGHT, expand=YES, fill=BOTH)


class Key(Button):
    def __init__(self, master, font=('arial', 8, 'bold'),
                 fg='white', width=5, borderwidth=5, **kw):
        kw['font'] = font
        kw['fg'] = fg
        kw['width'] = width
        kw['borderwidth'] = borderwidth
        # apply(Button.__init__, (self, master), kw)
        Button.__init__(self, master, kw)
        self.pack(side=LEFT, expand=NO, fill=NONE)


class Calculator(Frame):
    def __init__(self, parent=None):
        Frame.__init__(self, bg='gray40')
        self.pack(expand=YES, fill=BOTH)
        self.master.title('Tkinter Toolkit TT-42')
        self.master.iconname('Tk-42')
        self.calc = Evaluator()  # This is our evaluator
        self.build_calculator()  # Build the widgets
        # This is an incomplete dictionary - a good exercise!
        self.actionDict = {'second': self.do_this, 'mode': self.do_this,
                           'delete': self.do_this, 'alpha': self.do_this,
                           'stat': self.do_this, 'math': self.do_this,
                           'matrix': self.do_this, 'program': self.do_this,
                           'vars': self.do_this, 'clear': self.clearall,
                           'sin': self.do_this, 'cos': self.do_this,
                           'tan': self.do_this, 'up': self.do_this,
                           'X1': self.do_this, 'X2': self.do_this,
                           'log': self.do_this, 'ln': self.do_this,
                           'store': self.do_this, 'off': self.turnoff,
                           'neg': self.do_this, 'enter': self.do_enter,
                           }
        self.current = ""

    @staticmethod
    def do_this(action):
        print('"{}" has not been implemented'.format(action))

    def turnoff(self, *args):
        self.quit()

    def clearall(self, *args):
        self.current = ""
        self.display.component('text').delete(1.0, END)

    def do_enter(self, *args):
        result = self.calc.runpython(self.current)
        if result:
            self.display.insert(END, '\n')
            self.display.insert(END, '{}\n'.format(result), 'ans')
        self.current = ""

    def do_keypress(self, event):
        key = event.char
        if not key in ['\b']:
            self.current = self.current + event.char
        if key == '\b':
            self.current = self.current[:-1]

    def key_action(self, key):
        self.display.insert(END, key)
        self.current = self.current + key

    def eval_action(self, action):
        try:
            self.actionDict[action](action)
        except KeyError:
            pass

    def build_calculator(self):
        FUN = 1  # Designates a Function
        KEY = 0  # Designates a Key
        KC1 = 'gray30'  # Dark Keys
        KC2 = 'gray50'  # Light Keys
        KC3 = 'steelblue1'  # Light Blue Key
        KC4 = 'steelblue'  # Dark Blue Key
        keys = [
            [('2nd', '', '', KC3, FUN, 'second'),  # Row 1
             ('Mode', 'Quit', '', KC1, FUN, 'mode'),
             ('Del', 'Ins', '', KC1, FUN, 'delete'),
             ('Alpha', 'Lock', '', KC2, FUN, 'alpha'),
             ('Stat', 'List', '', KC1, FUN, 'stat')],
            [('Math', 'Test', 'A', KC1, FUN, 'math'),  # Row 2
             ('Mtrx', 'Angle', 'B', KC1, FUN, 'matrix'),
             ('Prgm', 'Draw', 'C', KC1, FUN, 'program'),
             ('Vars', 'YVars', '', KC1, FUN, 'vars'),
             ('Clr', '', '', KC1, FUN, 'clear')],
            [('X-1', 'Abs', 'D', KC1, FUN, 'X1'),  # Row 3
             ('Sin', 'Sin-1', 'E', KC1, FUN, 'sin'),
             ('Cos', 'Cos-1', 'F', KC1, FUN, 'cos'),
             ('Tan', 'Tan-1', 'G', KC1, FUN, 'tan'),
             ('^', 'PI', 'H', KC1, FUN, 'up')],
            [('X2', 'Root', 'I', KC1, FUN, 'X2'),  # Row 4
             (',', 'EE', 'J', KC1, KEY, ','),
             ('(', '{', 'K', KC1, KEY, '('),
             (')', '}', 'L', KC1, KEY, ')'),
             ('/', '', 'M', KC4, KEY, '/')],
            [('Log', '10x', 'N', KC1, FUN, 'log'),  # Row 5
             ('7', 'Un-1', 'O', KC2, KEY, '7'),
             ('8', 'Vn-1', 'P', KC2, KEY, '8'),
             ('9', 'n', 'Q', KC2, KEY, '9'),
             ('X', '[', 'R', KC4, KEY, '*')],
            [('Ln', 'ex', 'S', KC1, FUN, 'ln'),  # Row 6
             ('4', 'L4', 'T', KC2, KEY, '4'),
             ('5', 'L5', 'U', KC2, KEY, '5'),
             ('6', 'L6', 'V', KC2, KEY, '6'),
             ('-', ']', 'W', KC4, KEY, '-')],
            [('STO', 'RCL', 'X', KC1, FUN, 'store'),  # Row 7
             ('1', 'L1', 'Y', KC2, KEY, '1'),
             ('2', 'L2', 'Z', KC2, KEY, '2'),
             ('3', 'L3', '', KC2, KEY, '3'),
             ('+', 'MEM', '"', KC4, KEY, '+')],
            [('Off', '', '', KC1, FUN, 'off'),  # Row 8
             ('0', '', '', KC2, KEY, '0'),
             ('.', ':', '', KC2, KEY, '.'),
             ('(-)', 'ANS', '?', KC2, FUN, 'neg'),
             ('Enter', 'Entry', '', KC4, FUN, 'enter')]]

        self.display = Pmw.ScrolledText(self, hscrollmode='dynamic',
                                        vscrollmode='dynamic', hull_relief='sunken',
                                        hull_background='gray40', hull_borderwidth=10,
                                        text_background='honeydew4', text_width=16,
                                        text_foreground='black', text_height=6,
                                        text_padx=10, text_pady=10, text_relief='groove',
                                        text_font=('arial', 12, 'bold'))
        self.display.pack(side=TOP, expand=YES, fill=BOTH)
        self.display.tag_config('ans', foreground='white')
        self.display.component('text').bind('<Key>', self.do_keypress)
        self.display.component('text').bind('<Return>', self.do_enter)

        for row in keys:
            rowa = Frame(self, bg='gray40')
            rowb = Frame(self, bg='gray40')
            for p1, p2, p3, color, ktype, func in row:
                if ktype == FUN:
                    a = lambda s=self, a=func: s.eval_action(a)
                else:
                    a = lambda s=self, k=func: s.key_action(k)
                SLabel(rowa, p2, p3)
                Key(rowb, text=p1, bg=color, command=a)
            rowa.pack(side=TOP, expand=YES, fill=BOTH)
            rowb.pack(side=TOP, expand=YES, fill=BOTH)


class Evaluator:
    def __init__(self):
        self.myNameSpace = {}
        self.runpython("from math import *")

    def runpython(self, code):
        try:
            return eval(code, self.myNameSpace, self.myNameSpace)
        except SyntaxError:
            try:
                exec(code in self.myNameSpace, self.myNameSpace)
            except:
                print("Unexpected error:", sys.exc_info()[0])
                return 'Error'

if __name__ == '__main__':
    Calculator().mainloop()

Larz60+

[metulburr]

switch tkinter -> Tkinter for py2
tkinter + pmw calc
[Image: aRRqObh.png]

PyQT calc
[Image: calc.jpg]
granted the tkinter one is scientific, but that has nothing to do with appearance

[llanitedave]

switch tkinter -> Tkinter for py2
tkinter + pmw calc
[Image: aRRqObh.png]

PyQT calc
[Image: calc.jpg]
granted the tkinter one is scientific, but that has nothing to do with appearance

From what I understand, you could make the PyQt version look like the Tkinter version if you wanted, but not vice/versa.

[Larz60+]

Hello,

metulburr wrote:

From what I understand, you could make the PyQt version look like the Tkinter version if you wanted, but not vice/versa.

It's not there in the current widget set, but it's possible: http://search.cpan.org/~darnold/Tk-Style...Button.pod

or use wxpython

Larz60+