Venster

Introduction

Venster is a highly native Windows GUI toolkit for Python based on the ctypes ffi library.

The aim of Venster is to be a very lightweight wrapper around the standard Win32 API, making it easy to write slick windows applications in pure Python.

Please note that Venster is currently alpha code, and it is provided to get feedback from the Windows and Python developer communities.

Despite being alpha, it is also already very useful and can certainly be used to succesfully create native windows programs in Python.
Combine Venster with py2exe to create windows executables and NSIS to create an installer, and you have a great way to deliver Python programs to your users on the Windows platform.

Click on this link to download an example of a Windows application created with Venster.

This example shows that Venster can be used to create standalone Windows applications in Python with minimal runtime requirements.
Everything is included within the 800Kb package and the program can be installed on any Windows machine with no additional downloads.

Venster is an open source library and is hosted at Sourceforge.

Mailing list

A mailing list for general discussion on Venster is hosted by sourceforge. You can join the list here...

Tutorial and HOWTO's

The essential Venster example: 'Hello World'

Howto create a dialog from a resource DLL

Developers

Information for developers who want to contribute can be found here ...

Installing Venster

•  Installing venster; first download and install the latest ctypes package (select the installer .exe for your Python version) from here ,
  Then download the latest source distribution (.zip file) of Venster from here

•  Unpack the Venster zip file in some folder; and issue a python setup.py install in that folder.

•  The venster distribution contains a subfolder test which contains some samples on how to use Venster.

Examples

•  test_app.pyw is an example of a typical explorer style windows program:

  

  It uses the windows TreeView and TabControl Common Controls. It also hosts the Internet Explorer Control

•  Another example is test_coolbar:

  

  This example shows the use of a Toolbar Common Control with a menu. This is a very sleek UI feature that was first introduced by Internet Explorer.