Top XRCed Alternatives: Discover Your Ideal GUI Editor

XRCed is a simple resource editor designed for wxWidgets/wxPython GUI development, known for its ability to create and edit files in the XRC format. While it serves its purpose well for many Python and wxPython developers, users often seek XRCed alternatives for various reasons, including broader platform support, more advanced features, or integration with different toolkits. This article explores the best alternatives to XRCed, helping you find the perfect tool for your GUI development needs.

Top XRCed Alternatives

Looking for a different approach to GUI design or a tool that better fits your development environment? Here are some excellent alternatives to XRCed:

Glade

Glade is a powerful RAD (Rapid Application Development) tool primarily used for developing user interfaces for the GTK+ toolkit and the GNOME desktop environment. It's a great XRCed alternative for those working with GTK+ on Free, Open Source, Mac, Windows, and Linux platforms, offering features like Java and Python integration for rapid UI design.

Zenity

Zenity stands out as a unique XRCed alternative, focusing on displaying GTK dialog boxes directly from command-line and shell scripts. It is a Free, Open Source tool primarily for Linux, providing a simple yet effective way to add graphical interactions to scripts without full-fledged GUI builders, making it highly portable for command-line users.

Yad

Yad (yet another dialog) is an enhanced fork of Zenity, offering numerous improvements such as custom buttons, additional dialog types, and a pop-up menu in the notification icon. This Free, Open Source XRCed alternative is available on Windows and Linux, excelling in scripting and portability for creating interactive dialogs.

wxFormBuilder

wxFormBuilder is an excellent Free, Open Source XRCed alternative for developers using the wxWidgets framework. It enables the visual creation of multi-platform applications on Mac, Windows, and Linux, with or without a graphical user interface. Its RAD capabilities and Python support make it a strong contender for visual wxWidgets development.

wxDev-C++

wxDev-C++ extends Bloodshed Dev-C++, offering visual form design for wxWidgets applications. As a Free, Open Source XRCed alternative for Windows, it provides an integrated development environment (IDE) that simplifies the process of creating dialogs and frames visually, making it ideal for C++ developers working with wxWidgets.

wxSmith

wxSmith is a powerful Code::Blocks plugin that acts as a RAD editor for wxWidgets applications. This Free, Open Source GUI Designer is a strong XRCed alternative for users on Mac, Windows, and Linux who prefer working within the Code::Blocks environment, streamlining the design of wxWidgets GUIs.

The world of GUI development offers a wide array of tools beyond XRCed. Whether you prioritize specific toolkits, command-line integration, or comprehensive IDE features, these XRCed alternatives provide diverse options. Explore each one to determine the best fit for your unique development workflow and project requirements.