readme.md

GUIDO

This is a simple cross mode GUI library for the Processings.

Why another GUI lib? There are two reasons i started this. One is that i find myself re-writing my own GUI management again and again since most other GUI libs are not easy to customize in terms of style and behaviour. The second reason is that i needed one that is cross mode (Java / JavaScript) compatible (see below).

What does cross mode mean and why "the Processings"? The future 2.0 Processing will have "modes" which are additional language flavours to write and use Processing in. One is the JavaScript mode which is based upon Processing.js. Guido is an attempt at writing a GUI library that supports both Java and JavaScript, so any sketch using it should run on both modes.

Installing

As of Processing 2.0 you should use the "Library Manager" built into the Processing editor (PDE). From the menu: Sketch > Import Library ... > Add Library ...

Select "GUI" from the filter menu at top, or type guido into search.

Select "Guido" in the list and click "Install" button on the right.

Installing ... manually

Download Guido.zip Unzip inside your sketchbook Restart Processing Try examples

Getting started

Guido wants you to write your own interface elements, it does not provide them by default as other great GUI libs do. It comes with examples of standard elements which should you get started. If you come up with something cool, consider sharing it to be included as example.

Guido is mainly an event manager that collects and distributes events to interface elements you create. A simple example:

import de.bezier.guido.*;

void setup ()
{
    size ( 200, 200 );

    Interactive.make( this ); // start GUIDO

    MyButton mb = new MyButton( 20, 20, 50, 50 ); // create an instance of your element
}

void draw ()
{
	background(255);
	
    // GUIDO calls "element.draw()" of every element registered with it after
    // this draw for the elements to be drawn on top.
}

public class MyButton
{
    float x,y,width,height;
    boolean on;

    MyButton ( float xx, float yy, float ww, float hh ) 
    {
        x = xx; y = yy; width = ww; height = hh;
    
        Interactive.add( this ); // add this to GUIDO manager, important!
    }

    void mousePressed ()
    {
        // called when the button has been pressed
    
        on = !on;
    }

    void draw ()
    {
        // called by GUIDO after PApplet.draw() has finished
    
        fill( on ? 80 : 140 );
        rect( x, y, width, height );
    }
}

For a full overview of all available callbacks and their different forms open the ReflectiveActiveElement reference included in the download.

Contribute

If you write super cool interface classes maybe consider sharing them with me so i can include them into Guido as examples ...