When choosing an embedded GUI generator for your device, there are several factors to consider to ensure seamless design and embedded development process. Below we list the four major features that should consider when selecting an embedded GUI generator, regardless of the application.
Intuitive workflow system
For the embedded GUI generator, an intuitive workflow is very needed by developers and designers. An effective software tool can promote ease of use and productivity for both parties. For example, using Crank Storyboard, you can directly import such as Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator or Sketch from familiar, user-friendly tools to provide designers with a more intuitive workflow system.
No matter what kind of GUI application you are creating, it is helpful for designers to design using tools they are familiar with (such as Photoshop, Illustrator, or Sketch) to import the design files into the GUI generator and run them on the required hardware. This simple approach helps avoid potential pitfalls encountered during the transformation from design to code. With Storyboard, no matter what details and styles you incorporate into your visuals, they will remain the same when imported into the software.
Ability to add animations
For an embedded graphical user interface, appearance itself is not the reason for its success; the ability to add appropriate animations and behaviors is also essential. In embedded development, for some embedded GUI construction tools, such as Qt, animations are defined in code, such as object state and transformation based on QML language specification. The usual workflow requires writing logic code in the editor, testing changes, and then patching until you get the experience you want.
In alternative tools, such as Crank Storyboard, there is a simple process of adding animations using an animation timeline, similar to the timeline used by designers and producers in any video editing application. This setting allows you to control animations and observe timing relationships between elements. Storyboard also has animation recording, allowing you to drag and drop and change the state of objects in , the visual editor, for testing and playback at runtime.
Platform scalability
In addition to performance issues, when choosing a GUI generator, there are two other features that need to be considered, because the software must be very suitable for the operating system and hardware of your choice. The first question is: Can embedded GUI applications actually run on the operating system and hardware of your choice? Secondly, how difficult is it to migrate applications to different platforms?
If created in a storyboard, GUI applications run on multiple platform types, from high-performance, multi-chip microprocessor boards to single-chip, resource-constrained microcontroller .
Simultaneously running other embedded development kits, such as the Qt embedded GUI generator, requires a lot of time and time-consuming knowledge to optimize its processing power and available memory. In addition, low-end MPU is struggling due to limited resources, which makes mid-to-high-end systems an ideal range for Qt to operate effectively, and appropriate tuning is required with less effort.
Generally speaking, platform adaptability and support are important. In either case, as the project is built, production scale and cost increases, switching between hardware is very important if needed.
Efficiency and smooth operation
With toolkits such as Qt, designers must work with developers to convert their designs into code and deploy them to target hardware. This can be an inefficient process as the two have to figure out how to adjust the design to fit the development constraints. Also, in this process, you have to deal with all the difficulties you encounter when debugging and running a real GUI application.
With Storyboard, we eliminate the need to make designers rely on developers.This greatly reduces the time it takes to translate the design concept into the end result. This process only involves designers importing their GUI designs from Photoshop, Illustrator, or Sketch, adding the required animations and behaviors, and deploying them to a built-in emulator for prototyping and user testing. Once the hardware platform is selected, developers can integrate and test proven designs, ensuring that designers’ intentions are maintained.
I hope this article provides you with enough information and guidance to help you confidently decide which embedded GUI generator is best for you and your embedded development team. Regardless of what GUI application you are considering, it is very important to look for these features when choosing a builder to ensure a smooth, simplified process.
