Check Out Now: 3 Ways to Use PySimpleGUI for Free before it Becomes Paid

PySimpleGUI is a popular Python GUI library that makes it easy for developers to create simple and clean user interfaces for their applications. Recently, PySimpleGUI announced that they will be moving to a paid model for their software, which has caused some concern among users who have been using the library for free. In this tutorial, we will explore three different ways you can continue to use PySimpleGUI for free, even after the paid model is implemented.

Method 1: Using the Open Source Version

The first method to continue using PySimpleGUI for free is to simply stick with the open-source version of the library. While the paid version will offer additional features and support, the open-source version will still be available for users to download and use at no cost. This version of PySimpleGUI may not have all the latest features and updates, but it will still allow you to create basic GUIs for your Python applications.

To use the open source version of PySimpleGUI, simply visit the PySimpleGUI GitHub repository and download the source code for the library. You can then install it using pip or by running the setup.py file included in the source code. Once installed, you can begin using PySimpleGUI in your Python projects as you normally would.

Method 2: Using PySimpleGUI-Wx

Another way to continue using PySimpleGUI for free is to switch to the PySimpleGUI-Wx version of the library. PySimpleGUI-Wx is a fork of the original PySimpleGUI that uses the wxPython toolkit instead of the tkinter toolkit. This version of PySimpleGUI is still maintained by the community and offers similar functionality to the original library.

To use PySimpleGUI-Wx, you can install it using pip by running the following command in your terminal:

pip install PySimpleGUI-Wx

Once installed, you can import PySimpleGUI-Wx in your Python code and use it to create GUIs using the wxPython toolkit. While there may be some differences in functionality between PySimpleGUI-Wx and the original PySimpleGUI, this version of the library will still allow you to create GUIs for your Python applications without having to pay for the paid version.

Method 3: Using Alternatives to PySimpleGUI

If you are looking for a completely free alternative to PySimpleGUI, there are several other GUI libraries available for Python that you can use in your projects. Some popular alternatives to PySimpleGUI include Tkinter, PyQt, and Kivy, all of which are open-source and free to use.

Tkinter is the standard GUI toolkit that comes with Python and is suitable for creating simple user interfaces for desktop applications. PyQt is a more feature-rich GUI library that allows you to create complex and professional-looking interfaces using the Qt framework. Kivy is a cross-platform GUI library that is ideal for creating touch-based interfaces for mobile and desktop applications.

To use any of these alternatives to PySimpleGUI, you can simply install them using pip and import them in your Python code. While these libraries may have a steeper learning curve than PySimpleGUI, they offer a wide range of features and customization options that may be more suitable for your specific needs.

In conclusion, while PySimpleGUI’s move to a paid model may be disappointing for some users, there are still ways to continue using the library for free. Whether you stick with the open-source version, switch to PySimpleGUI-Wx, or explore alternatives to PySimpleGUI, there are plenty of options available to help you create beautiful and functional GUIs for your Python applications.