原文地址：[url]http://zetcode.com/tutorials/gtktutorial/introduction/[/url]
The GTK+ is a library for creating graphical user interfaces. The library is created in
C programming language. The GTK+ library is also called the GIMP Toolkit. Originally, the library was created
while developing the GIMP p_w_picpath manipulation program. Since then, the GTK+ became one of the most popular toolkits
under Linux and BSD Unix. Today, most of the GUI software in the open source world is created in Qt or in GTK+.
The GTK+ is an object oriented application programming interface. The object oriented system is created with the
Glib object system, which is a base for the GTK+ library. The GObject also enables to
create language bindings for various other programming languages. Language bindings exist for C++, Python, Perl, Java,
C# and other programming languages.
The GTK+ itself depends on the following libraries.
- Glib
- Pango
- ATK
- GDK
- GdkPixbuf
- Cairo
The Glib is a general purpose utility library. It provides various data types, string utilities,
enables error reporting, message logging, working with threads and other useful programming features.
The Pango is a library which enables internationalization.
The ATK is the accessibility toolkit. This toolkit provides tools which help physically challenged
people work with computers. The GDK
is a wrapper around the low-level drawing and windowing functions
provided by the underlying graphics system. On Linux, GDK lies between
the X Server and the GTK+ library. Recently, much of it's functionality
have been delegated to the Cairo library. The GdkPixbuf library is a toolkit for p_w_picpath loading and pixel buffer manipulation. Cairo is a library for creating 2D vector graphics.
It has been included in GTK+ since version 2.8.
Gnome and XFce desktop environments have been created using the GTK+ library. SWT and wxWidgets are well known
programming frameworks, that use GTK+. Prominent software applications that use GTK+ include Firefox or Inkscape.
