[comp.windows.ms] What is involved in designing Window-interface for an application?

mistry@hslrswi.UUCP (Lalit Mistry) (11/10/89)

We have an application which was written in FORTRAN  which had a normal menu
driven interface plus a gks based plot output function.

We now want to design a similar application but using window type interface
and would most likely be written in Modula-2 or C.     

So far I have only used windows with various bought-in application eg
MS-Windows with designer, write etc.

I have following questions to all who work in this area or have something
to do with it:

1. How does one design window-type interface for an application ? Are there
   tool-kits available for such developments?

2. Are this tool-kits specific to types of window environment offered by
   software firms like MS-Windows, Sunview etc. ?

3. What other approaches could one take eg writing under a window environment
   already bought in rather than writing it one self ?
 
4. Are their plot packages available which run under windows (similar to
   GKS based) ? We used GSS-GKS package which made our application rather
   bulky.

5. Are there public domain software or shareware which address my problems ?

6. What literature would you recommend to read in order to get indepth info
   on this topic ?

7. Do the software houses which developed packages like MS-Windows, symphony
   etc.develop their own low-level graphic functions and application interfaces
   or do they use tolls developed else where ?

I would very much appreciate response to my posting from all those who have 
either been themselves involved in writing such software or have indirectly
dealt with such software. Thanks in advance. I will summarise response and
e-mail to those interested or post it to net.

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