Perl Tk IDE

[MkIII_Supra]

I am looking for a point and click IDE to build GUI's that will use Perl. I have KDevelop and QT Designer installed but those seem to be targeting C/C++. I am learning how to create Perl Tk GUI's using a text editor, but I need to speed the process up a bit, hence the need for a click and drag IDE interface.

Suggestions?

Thank you,

[Calipso]

Im pretty sure Glade works with Perl.



real men use Python/PyGTK;)

[Konan]

Alas, I don't believe there is one yet. When I converted from Windows years ago, I was heavy into Delphi (which is the only thing I regret leaving behind) and tried all the Linux IDEs you mentioned. But as you said, they are heavy into C++, which I can handle but don't like, but addons and plugins will allow you to tack on other languages, although documentation is sparse to say the least. And a newie will have enough problems just making Kdevelop and QT work natively, without wading through even more library dependency hell trying to get Perl, Ruby or whatever hooked in.

I used QTdesigner until I finally discovered TK for Perl and it has been the gui builder that I use almost exclusively now. And like you, the first thing I discovered about it was the lack of a drag and drop form builder. In Delphi, VB, Netbeans and so forth, the form building is so easy that it can be done while you are watching the evening news. But for a TK program, the first part of a project is always => build widget, place it, run it, change the XY coordinates, run it again, etc, to finally size it or move it into the proper place on the form. It can be a time consuming task, especially if you need to make any kind of major change later. I look forward to a native TK form builder, although I have to say that I have heard of no such project anywhere.

Now, as to that, one of my on going projects that I dink with off and on, is a pseudo TK form builder. It is (naturally) a TK program that allows me to semi automate form building with a menu of widgets. If it was a commercial project, it would have a version number up in the 20's or 30's by now, since I have rewritten it many times over the years. Unfortunately, I never seem to get it up to the point of complete usability before I think of a better way to do the same thing and start over.

Maybe it is time to turn it into a real project and do it right.

Konan

[MkIII_Supra]

So I am searching and I found this http://www.activestate.com/store/productdetail.aspx?prdGuid=313a2e91-f5c6-4e9b-b31e-9a40af8348a0] ActiveState Perl Pro (http://www.activestate.com/store/productdetail.aspx?prdGuid=313a2e91-f5c6-4e9b-b31e-9a40af8348a0). Anybody have input on this product?

[E1PHOTON]

http://www.perltk.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=28&Itemid=29

Just a google search away. >;D

[MkIII_Supra]

Yes I found that site as well, but I can't seem to find a download for the tool.

[hotcold]

Hi.

I had a trial license of Komodo. I like all the ideas in Komodo, but I found it easier to use an editor to construct my code, building in my debugging features. I write mostly little utilities, but if I were faced with a large perl project, I might visit Komodo again.

If you like GUIs to build programs for the languages supported, then it's hard to beat the value of Komodo.

However, the idea of screen or form design is not the purpose of Komodo -- at least not for the version I had, and, looking at the new version, it does not seem to have that feature either. I'm assuming that you asking about items like MS Access forms, Apple FileMaker forms, etc., where you create and place elements for visual reports with a GUI.

I looked through CPAN for screen form design tk but nothing on-point showed up ... cheers, hotcold

( edit 1: typo )

[MkIII_Supra]

Okay get ready for a long (maybe) dialog. Essentially what is going on is we are getting some new Enterprise grade Energy Management and billing software here at work. Since I am the Energy Analyst it's my job to use this software and generate bills and other reports. Well I also have to create a maintenance program which is NOT provided by the software we are looking at. So I need to have an additional database that will share some pre-defined key data with the Enterprise application / database.

So I have settled on PostgreSQL to build my meters maintenance database and a Perl/Tk front end to access the data and store pre-defined queries. Currently I have several Access tools I have created to do this and other things. But I am tired of dealing with Access and would like to move to a cross platform system. Also I am looking to use as much Open Source as possible for several reasons. The biggest being cost of licensing and portability.

What I like is the ability to quickly create GUI's in Access then code them to do what I need. BUT I have been running into some limitations or issues with VBA and Access, this biggest is not cross platform! So after a lot of searching and looking and reading up, I have come to the conclusion that Perl is the perfect language to use. Problem is creating GUI's rapidly then coding the back ends. I am still a Perl newb (totally new!) but I am making pretty quick progress. I have found a web site with a Perl/Tk book on it and I am reading that now and practicing Perl/Tk programming using Kate as my editor for now.

Since time is not on my side AND my job is not to be a full time programmer I need to have a tool that will allow me to RAPIDLY create an application and link it to the two databases so I can start extracting information and reports. I finally got sign off on an OpenSuSE box which should be delivered sometime soon. The ITS folks went nuts when they found out I was using my own Linux system at work. But I told them it's what I use to develop and it's far more secure and easy to maintain than Windows.

My boss will approve any development software I need BUT I have to make sure it's going to work and work for a long time without the need to replace it. Which is why I am on the search now to find a solid GUI RAD with Perl/Tk support. Originally I wanted to use Java for the front end but everyone kept telling me that there was too much overhead and negative this and that. So since Perl is cross platform compatible AND well documented and supported I was hoping to find a nice GUI RAD for it. And it kind of peeves me that I can find C/C++, Java, Javascript and VB GUI RAD's but so far nothing for Perl.

Now some of the applications I will be writing are pretty big and complex. They will require the ability to morph GUI's, pass information from one GUI to another, create SQL then run it against each database. Just to name a couple things. Also I need to have the ability to create dynamic menus based on selections, perform rapid record counts then use that to perform other functions.

So I hope this helps to better define my needs and wants.

Thank you:eek:

[MkIII_Supra]

What about REAL Basic? (http://www.realsoftware.com) I have a demo version of it loaded right now... reading up on what language is supports. I will try it with Perl and see what happens.

[Calipso]

You should seriously consider Glade (http://www.glade-perl.connectfree.co.uk/)

[flukshun]

real men use Python/PyGTK;)

real men use Perl/Tk

rational men use Python/PyGTK :D

[MkIII_Supra]

Okay... so I am slowly getting Glade together. As I am testing I am running into issues that I am not sure how to surmount. Um the first one is I create a window. Then I go to add a button... the entire window is occupied by the button.

Now my understanding is the window is the form I want to build, but how can I build my form / window if all I am allowed is a single widget? What am I doing wrong?

[bwkaz]

A window can only hold one widget, yes. But if that widget is an hbox, vbox, table, tab-view, etc. type widget, then it can contain multiple sub-widgets.

Basically, layout in Gtk+ is done by arranging containers in the proper layout, then populating the containers with widgets. Messing around with the various "packing" tab options (when available) is also highly recommended -- especially "expand", "fill", various padding options, and "alignment". :)

[Calipso]

Then I go to add a button... the entire window is occupied by the button.

HA!, this confused me too.
If you have a look at all the widgets, one will allow you to set your gui up just like in VB. You can freely resize and move all the widgets around the form as you would like. I'm afraid I'm not on a Linux box right now( :( ) so I can't check which widget actually lets you do that but if you look around you should be able to find it.

Of course this is the easy way out. The proper way would be to learn how to use vboxes and hboxes and other containers/layouts.

[MkIII_Supra]

Great! Looks like I will need another book! I swear my office is starting to look like a library! And I am supposed to be an Energy Analyst! :)

Thank you guy's I will futz about with the vBoxes and hBoxes. Now that I know! Of course the next item is to ensure the Perl GTK is installed correctly. But I can do that tomorrow.