Graphical User Interface (GUI)

Graphical User Interface (GUI)

1. Links the interaction between user and system

2. Building a GUI

   • Programs for building a GUI
     • Standalone : JAVA Swing
     • Web: HTML, CSS, JS
     • Mobile: IOS, Android, Windows Phone
   • Factors in building a GUI
     • Intuitive: is it easy to figure out how to use it
     • Friendly: will users want to use the program again
     • Clear: is the interface clean and does the information make sense
   • Components
     • Containers
       • Frame: Main window containing other components and with minimize, move, close functions
         • JFrame class methods: setSize, setResizable, setDefaultCloseOperation, setVisible, add
       • Panels: Divide frame into logical sections of GUI elements
     • Graphical Distributers
       • Layouts: organizer of the elements using setLayout
         • Border layout: uses compass directions to organize, North, South, East, West, Center
         • Grid layout: plots on a matrix with specified number of rows and columns
         • Containers can have sub-containers
     • Buttons, labels, images
   • Interaction
     • Active panels can be interacted with
     • Inactive panels are not interacted with
   • Messages
     • Display information or get input from user
       • Information, error, or warning messages
       • Input dialog