I use Tk routinely in Scheme; there is no Tcl in my code, but Tk is a very nice (though basic) GUI kit, and my programs work on Linux, BSD, MacOS, and Windows. Other commenters have mentioned that Python ships with Tkinter, a library module that interfaces to Tk. I believe Ruby does the same. Hell, if you're programming in Cobol, you can have Tk (as long as your Cobol allows you to call C). You do not have to love Tcl to love Tcl/Tk.
in what way is Tk basic? can you elaborate? also what are your thoughts on the issues with python as mentioned in the article? how do the scheme bindings compare?
the problem with Tcl/Tk is Tcl. the author does write about the quirks and problems, so this is a good article, but the end of it is that Tcl is simply not a language that i am interested in mastering. just like shell scripting. i'll use it if i have to, but it is not my preference.
and as the article also mentions what makes the apps cross platform is the native or near-native GUI. and apparently Tk is good for that.
but i'd rather use a nicer language with it. again, the article does talk about python, and points out that the Tk bindings in python are simply not good enough. that was very insightful, and i am glad to know.
however i would like to know if any other languages do better here. what about go for example? has anyone tried Tk with other languages and can share some experience?
> Those GUI apps look native on Windows, Linux and macOS
I don’t see how the author can write this with a straight face.
The apps look like what native apps looked like in 2003.
I use Tk routinely in Scheme; there is no Tcl in my code, but Tk is a very nice (though basic) GUI kit, and my programs work on Linux, BSD, MacOS, and Windows. Other commenters have mentioned that Python ships with Tkinter, a library module that interfaces to Tk. I believe Ruby does the same. Hell, if you're programming in Cobol, you can have Tk (as long as your Cobol allows you to call C). You do not have to love Tcl to love Tcl/Tk.
in what way is Tk basic? can you elaborate? also what are your thoughts on the issues with python as mentioned in the article? how do the scheme bindings compare?
Tkinter or other Tk based GUI interfaces are the immediate tool I reach for whenever I build something that's not in the CLI or in the browser.
My general "daily driver" is python and I love that I can just spin up a cross-platform tool immediately with it. Tcl/Tk rule and are insanely useful.
how is your experience with the problems with Tk and python as described in the article?
the problem with Tcl/Tk is Tcl. the author does write about the quirks and problems, so this is a good article, but the end of it is that Tcl is simply not a language that i am interested in mastering. just like shell scripting. i'll use it if i have to, but it is not my preference.
and as the article also mentions what makes the apps cross platform is the native or near-native GUI. and apparently Tk is good for that.
but i'd rather use a nicer language with it. again, the article does talk about python, and points out that the Tk bindings in python are simply not good enough. that was very insightful, and i am glad to know.
however i would like to know if any other languages do better here. what about go for example? has anyone tried Tk with other languages and can share some experience?
I take issue with the only 100 MB footprint, that is still pretty big when consider fasm, tcc and rebol are all closer to 1 meg.
Fun fact: macOS hex editor "Hex Fiend" uses Tcl for its templating language:
https://github.com/HexFiend/HexFiend/tree/master/templates