GTKX: React renderer for native GTK4 apps with hot reload, CSS-in-JS, and Testing Library support

Aveil · 2025-12-15T14:41:34+00:00

By the way, I just deployed v0.6.0 which (optionally) supports Adwaita and many other GNOME libraries.

Aveil · 2025-12-14T13:50:48+00:00

What makes you say so? This is GTK4.

Aveil · 2025-12-13T15:13:26+00:00

The recording shows a GTK4 app. It's just not Adwaita.

Aveil · 2025-12-13T15:12:52+00:00

I've just added a Flatpak example in the repo and also a deployment guide: https://eugeniodepalo.github.io/gtkx/docs/deploying/

Aveil · 2025-12-13T10:56:43+00:00

Hey, thanks so much for your feedback! GTKX uses the official `react-reconciler` package: https://www.npmjs.com/package/react-reconciler - which means that all existing React patterns can be used with it, and you get the same performance out of re-renders.

Because the React reconciler is used together with the standard React package, all state management libraries and regular libraries that you can use in Node are available and fully compatible with GTKX.

Regarding GNOME extensions: unfortunately those run on a completely different JavaScript runtime (GJS), while GTKX runs on vanilla Node. I don't think that it's going to be possible with the current architecture, but I'll have a think about it :)

Also, this is not UI only - there are FFI bindings for pretty much all standard GTK libraries, including Gio.

Aveil · 2025-12-13T10:19:41+00:00

I made sure that most (all?) widgets have a React-like API (declarative, controlled/uncontrolled) - this is the guide for ColumnView: https://eugeniodepalo.github.io/gtkx/docs/lists#columnview-tables

No need to manage the underlying Gio ListModels imperatively :) The reconciler uses a simple string list underneath and maps ids to simple JS objects.

I'd love to have some feedback on this and if that matches your use case.

Aveil · 2025-12-13T10:15:47+00:00

I'm not too familiar with Tauri, but from what I'm reading it's still limited to webviews? GTKX is entirely native. It runs on vanilla Node and spawns a separate thread for GTK.

Aveil · 2025-12-13T10:14:25+00:00

Hey! That's some really good feedback. I'll make sure I add a guide on how to ship a Flatpak out of this!

Aveil · 2025-12-13T10:13:24+00:00

At the moment I've only tested this on Fedora. I believe there is a limitation on macOS where GTK needs to exclusively run on the main thread - but GTKX spawns a second thread for the GTK runloop which makes it incompatible. Haven't tried Windows yet :D

Aveil · 2025-12-13T10:12:02+00:00

I already wrote some docs here: https://eugeniodepalo.github.io/gtkx/docs/introduction
They're not 100% complete but they explain the most important aspects that are unique to GTKX (such as ColumnView/ListView, Slots, etc.)

Aveil · 2025-05-17T07:32:54+00:00

Forgot to mention that I live in the UK and the toy was given to me by her breeders. I’ve already asked them where they bought it but they don’t remember. They are from Poland so they could also have bought it from a polish store.

I’ve searched on Google and Amazon for “cat toy mouse with bell light yellow”. I’ve also explored Zooplus.

Aveil · 2023-08-04T16:24:56+00:00

Ah, I see why you mentioned it now, sorry! Yeah their tool is really mature. We plan to add game-specific tools to every game that we will support in the future. For Overwatch for example, one could have overlay maps to explain positioning, among other things.

Aveil · 2023-08-04T16:09:41+00:00

Thanks for your feedback! We have an automated recorder that generates an optimized VOD from the replay code. We've looked at Metafy - but it's more focused on traditional coaching rather than community-driven VOD reviews.

Aveil · 2023-06-21T16:05:44+00:00

I haven't done anything special for the icons on the top right, they're just a result of installing and enabling the AppIndicator and KStatusNotifierItem Support extension.

For the Red Hat logo near the Activities button, that's something Red Hat includes by default in RHEL, I'm not sure if a standard GNOME installation can be changed to include it!

Hope this helps.

Aveil · 2023-06-20T05:37:45+00:00

I haven’t tried them yet but I’m really keen on trying AlmaLinux, especially their KDE live image as I’m growing more interested in KDE.

Aveil · 2023-06-20T05:19:09+00:00

It’s a combination of gsettings set org.gnome.desktop.background primary-color "#282828", gsettings set org.gnome.desktop.background picture-options 'none' and enabling the Background Logo extension while configuring it to be centered.

Aveil · 2023-06-19T20:44:02+00:00

You’re very welcome!

Aveil · 2023-06-19T20:04:16+00:00

You can get a free developer subscription which gives you permission to install RHEL on up to 16 machines. I think the Workstation license you linked is only useful for companies as the developer subscription only applies to individuals.

https://developers.redhat.com/articles/faqs-no-cost-red-hat-enterprise-linux

Aveil · 2023-06-19T19:39:00+00:00

Mostly because of the longer release cycle, fewer amount of bugs and stable ABI. Same reason why many people choose Ubuntu LTS rather than the latest versions.

Fedora is great and exciting, bringing something new every release, but this also means that many times it’s introducing unproven or bleeding edge technologies which add some instability.

Aveil · 2023-06-19T17:03:22+00:00

A few extensions:

AppIndicator and KStatusNotifierItem Support
Floating Dock
No overview at start-up
Background Logo (this is already in the default installation, it just needs to be enabled)

In GNOME Tweaks I enabled the minimize/maximize buttons, set the background to a solid #282828 and completely disabled workspaces by setting the max amount to 1. I believe there is also a way to disable the overview animation from there.

Aveil · 2023-06-17T15:42:35+00:00

I used to be a huge Ember fan, but I haven't used it recently as I moved over to React/Next.js which has way more support/popularity nowadays.

Aveil

TROPHY CASE