UltraCanvas vs other GUI

UltraCanvas Advantages Over Other Frameworks

1.

Unique Template System

  • Most frameworks require manually building layouts each time
  • UltraCanvas provides reusable, configurable templates
  • Result: Much faster development, consistent UI

2.

Unified Layout Engine

  • Most frameworks have separate layout classes (QHBoxLayout, QVBoxLayout, etc.)
  • UltraCanvas has one engine with multiple placement rules
  • Result: Simpler API, easier to learn

3.

Built-in Drag Handles

  • Most frameworks require custom drag implementation
  • UltraCanvas provides drag handles out-of-the-box
  • Result: Professional draggable toolbars/panels instantly

4.

Builder Pattern Integration

  • Most frameworks use verbose procedural setup
  • UltraCanvas provides fluent, chainable configuration
  • Result: Much cleaner, more readable code

6.

Runtime Modification

  • Most frameworks make runtime changes difficult
  • UltraCanvas allows easy add/remove/rebuild
  • Result: Dynamic, adaptable UIs

Feature Comparison Table

Feature
UltraCanvas
Qt
WPF
Flutter
ImGui
GTK
Template System
Builder Pattern
Drag Handles
Multiple Layouts
Runtime Modification
Cross-Platform
C++ Native
Performance

What Makes UltraCanvas Special

The Template System is genuinely innovative – most GUI frameworks make you rebuild common layouts (toolbars, panels, status bars) from scratch every time. UltraCanvas provides:

  1. Pre-built Templates – CreateToolbar(), CreateStatusBar(), etc.
  2. Configurable Templates – Change appearance, layout rules, sizing
  3. Drag-and-Drop Ready – Built-in drag handles with visual feedback
  4. Runtime Flexibility – Add/remove elements on the fly
  5. Type-Safe Builder – Fluent API prevents common mistakes
  6.  

This combination of features doesn’t exist in other major frameworks – you’d have to build it yourself, which is exactly what UltraCanvas provides out of the box!

Comparison to other graphics user interfaces (GUI)

Qt Framework (C++)

Layout System

✅ Layout Managers: QHBoxLayout, QVBoxLayout, QGridLayout, QFormLayout

✅ Flexible sizing with QSizePolicy

❌ No Template System – Must manually create each layout

❌ No Drag Handles – Would need custom implementation

❌ No Builder Pattern – Verbose setup code

				
					// Qt - Verbose manual setup
QWidget* toolbar = new QWidget();
QHBoxLayout* layout = new QHBoxLayout(toolbar);
layout->addWidget(new QPushButton("New"));
layout->addWidget(new QPushButton("Open"));
layout->addStretch(); // Manual spacer
				
			
				
					<!-- WPF - XAML Templates (Similar concept!) -->
<DataTemplate x:Key="ToolbarTemplate">
    <StackPanel Orientation="Horizontal">
        <Button Content="New" />
        <Button Content="Open" />
        <Separator />
    </StackPanel>
</DataTemplate>

WPF (.NET/C#)

Layout System

✅ Excellent Layout Panels: StackPanel, Grid, DockPanel, WrapPanel

✅ Data Templates – Similar to our template concept

✅ XAML Markup – Declarative UI definition

❌ No Cross-Platform – Windows only

❌ No C++ Native – .NET dependency

Flutter (Dart)

Layout System

✅ Widget Composition – Everything is a widget

✅ Flexible Layouts: Row, Column, Stack, Grid

✅ Builder Pattern – Similar to our approach

❌ Not C++ – Dart language

❌ No Templates – Must rebuild layouts each time

				
					// Flutter - Similar builder pattern
Widget buildToolbar() {
  return Row(
    children: [
      IconButton(icon: Icon(Icons.add), onPressed: () {}),
      IconButton(icon: Icon(Icons.open_in_browser), onPressed: () {}),
      VerticalDivider(),
    ],
  );
}
				
			
				
					// ImGui - Immediate mode, no templates
if (ImGui::BeginMainMenuBar()) {
    if (ImGui::Button("New")) { /* action */ }
    if (ImGui::Button("Open")) { /* action */ }
    ImGui::Separator();
    // Must repeat this code everywhere
    ImGui::EndMainMenuBar();
}

Dear ImGui (C++)

Layout System

✅ Immediate Mode – Simple API

✅ Basic Layouts: SameLine(), Columns(), BeginGroup()

❌ No Template System – Code must be repeated

❌ No Advanced Layouts – Limited layout options

❌ No Drag Handles – Manual implementation

GTK (C)

Layout System

✅ Container Widgets: GtkBox, GtkGrid, GtkFixed

✅ Glade Templates – Visual designer

❌ C-Based – Verbose, manual memory management

❌ No Builder Pattern – Procedural setup

				
					// GTK - Verbose C code
GtkWidget *toolbar = gtk_box_new(GTK_ORIENTATION_HORIZONTAL, 5);
GtkWidget *new_btn = gtk_button_new_with_label("New");
gtk_box_pack_start(GTK_BOX(toolbar), new_btn, FALSE, FALSE, 0);
// Very verbose...
				
			
				
					<!-- HTML/CSS - Template-like with frameworks -->
<div class="toolbar" style="display: flex;">
  <button>New</button>
  <button>Open</button>
  <div class="separator"></div>
</div>

Electron/Web (HTML/CSS/JS)

Layout System

✅ CSS Grid/Flexbox – Powerful layout systems

✅ Component Libraries – React, Vue components (similar to templates)

✅ Templates – Modern web frameworks have this

❌ Performance – Heavy resource usage

❌ Not Native – Web-based, not true native