Not sure if Dear ImGui Bundle is right for you? Compare the code styles with other popular GUI libraries, when creating the app below:
12 lines – True immediate mode: UI declaration is the event handler
from imgui_bundle import imgui, hello_imgui
selected_idx = 0
items = ["Apple", "Banana", "Cherry"]
def gui():
global selected_idx
imgui.text("Choose a fruit:")
_changed, selected_idx = imgui.list_box("##fruits", selected_idx, items)
imgui.text(f"You selected: {items[selected_idx]}")
hello_imgui.run(gui, window_title="Fruit Picker", window_size_auto=True)Strengths: Simplest code, real-time capable, runs on desktop + web (Pyodide), 20+ integrated libraries, full C++ support
Best for: Tools, visualization, games, scientific apps
31 lines – Retained mode with class hierarchy and signals/slots
from PyQt6.QtWidgets import QApplication, QWidget, QVBoxLayout, QLabel, QListWidget
items = ["Apple", "Banana", "Cherry"]
class FruitPicker(QWidget):
def __init__(self):
super().__init__()
layout = QVBoxLayout()
self.label = QLabel("Choose a fruit:")
self.list_widget = QListWidget()
self.list_widget.addItems(items)
self.result_label = QLabel(f"You selected: {items[0]}")
self.list_widget.currentRowChanged.connect(self.on_selection_changed)
layout.addWidget(self.label)
layout.addWidget(self.list_widget)
layout.addWidget(self.result_label)
self.setLayout(layout)
def on_selection_changed(self, index):
self.result_label.setText(f"You selected: {items[index]}")
app = QApplication([])
window = FruitPicker()
window.show()
app.exec()Qt strengths: More widgets, Qt Designer, larger ecosystem, rich text, accessibility, native look
ImGui Bundle strengths: Simpler code, real-time, lighter weight, scientific viz, easier cross-compilation
Qt is Best for: Traditional business apps, enterprise software
29 lines – ImGui-based but with retained-mode API and callbacks
import dearpygui.dearpygui as dpg
items = ["Apple", "Banana", "Cherry"]
dpg.create_context()
def on_selection_changed(sender, app_data):
dpg.set_value("result_label", f"You selected: {app_data}")
with dpg.window(tag="Primary Window", label="Fruit Picker"):
dpg.add_text("Choose a fruit:")
dpg.add_listbox(items=items, callback=on_selection_changed, num_items=len(items))
dpg.add_text("You selected: ", tag="result_label")
dpg.create_viewport(title='Fruit Picker', width=400, height=300)
dpg.setup_dearpygui()
dpg.show_viewport()
dpg.set_primary_window("Primary Window", True)
dpg.start_dearpygui()
dpg.destroy_context()DearPyGui strengths: Familiar retained-mode API, large user base, good reputation
ImGui Bundle strengths: True immediate mode, more libraries (~20), C++ support, Pyodide web support
DearPyGui is Best for: Developers who prefer retained-mode patterns
15 lines – Web-based with callbacks
from nicegui import ui
selected_idx = -1
items = ["Apple", "Banana", "Cherry"]
def on_selection_change(e):
global selected_idx
selected_idx = items.index(e.value)
selection_label.text = f"You selected: {e.value}"
ui.label("Choose a fruit:")
dropdown = ui.select(options=items, value=items[0], on_change=on_selection_change)
selection_label = ui.label(f"You selected: {items[0]}")
ui.run(title="Fruit Picker")NiceGUI strengths: Web-native, modern UI, easy deployment, familiar web paradigm, reactive
ImGui Bundle strengths: Native performance, desktop-native, offline capable, advanced widgets, lower latency
NiceGUI is Best for: Web-first apps, internal dashboards, CRUD interfaces
18 lines – Declarative blocks with event wiring
import gradio as gr
items = ["Apple", "Banana", "Cherry"]
selected_item = items[0]
def on_selection_change(choice):
global selected_item
selected_item = choice
return f"You selected: {choice}"
with gr.Blocks() as demo:
gr.Markdown("# Fruit Picker")
gr.Markdown("Choose a fruit:")
dropdown = gr.Dropdown(choices=items, value=items[0], label="Choose a fruit")
output = gr.Textbox(value=f"You selected: {items[0]}", label="Selection", interactive=False)
dropdown.change(fn=on_selection_change, inputs=dropdown, outputs=output)
demo.launch()Gradio strengths: Web-native, ML-focused, Hugging Face integration, easy sharing, pre-built media components
ImGui Bundle strengths: Native performance, desktop-native, stateful apps, professional tools, flexibility
Gradio is Best for: ML model demos, Hugging Face Spaces, sharing with non-technical users