Comparing PyQt and Tkinter: A Comparison with Example Applications

When it comes to choosing a GUI toolkit for developing desktop applications in Python, two of the most popular choices are PyQt and Tkinter. Both have their own strengths and weaknesses, so it’s important to understand the differences between them before deciding which one to use for your project.

PyQt is a set of Python bindings for the Qt application framework, which is a popular cross-platform development tool for creating GUI applications. It offers a wide range of widgets, layouts, and controls, making it easy to create complex and professional-looking interfaces. PyQt is maintained by Riverbank Computing and is available under both commercial and open source licenses.

Tkinter, on the other hand, is a built-in Python library for creating simple GUI applications. It is easy to use and comes with a range of basic widgets and layouts, making it a good choice for beginners or for small, simple applications. Tkinter is included with the standard Python distribution, so it doesn’t require any additional installation.

So which should you use? The answer depends on the specific requirements of your project. Here are some factors to consider when deciding between PyQt and Tkinter:

1. Complexity of the application: If you need to create a complex, feature-rich GUI with advanced controls and custom layouts, PyQt is the way to go. Its extensive set of widgets and layouts make it easy to create sophisticated interfaces. Tkinter, on the other hand, is best suited for simple applications with basic user interfaces.

2. Platform support: PyQt is a cross-platform toolkit that supports Windows, macOS, and Linux, making it a good choice for developing applications that need to run on multiple operating systems. Tkinter, while also cross-platform, may not have as consistent a look and feel across different platforms.

3. Community support: PyQt has a large and active community of developers who contribute to its development and provide support through forums and online resources. Tkinter, being a built-in library, may have less community support available.

Example applications:

Let’s look at two example applications – a simple calculator and a weather app – developed using PyQt and Tkinter.

1. Simple calculator:

For the simple calculator application, PyQt would be a good choice due to its support for advanced controls like buttons, labels, and layouts. Here’s a basic example of a calculator using PyQt:

import sys
from PyQt5.QtWidgets import QApplication, QWidget, QVBoxLayout, QPushButton, QLineEdit

class Calculator(QWidget):
    def __init__(self):
        super().__init__()
        self.initUI()

    def initUI(self):
        vbox = QVBoxLayout()
        self.line_edit = QLineEdit()
        vbox.addWidget(self.line_edit)

        buttons = ['1', '2', '3', '+', '4', '5', '6', '-', '7', '8', '9', '*', 'C', '0', '=', '/']
        for btn_text in buttons:
            button = QPushButton(btn_text)
            button.clicked.connect(self.on_click)
            vbox.addWidget(button)

        self.setLayout(vbox)
        self.setWindowTitle('Calculator')
        self.show()

    def on_click(self):
        btn = self.sender()
        text = btn.text()
        if text == '=':
            result = eval(self.line_edit.text())
            self.line_edit.setText(str(result))
        elif text == 'C':
            self.line_edit.clear()
        else:
            self.line_edit.setText(self.line_edit.text() + text)

if __name__ == '__main__':
    app = QApplication(sys.argv)
    calc = Calculator()
    sys.exit(app.exec_())

1. Weather app:

For the weather app, which may require fetching data from an API and displaying it in a graphical format, PyQt would again be the better choice due to its rich set of controls and layouts. Here’s a simplified example of a weather app using PyQt:

import sys
import requests
from PyQt5.QtWidgets import QApplication, QWidget, QVBoxLayout, QLabel, QPushButton

class WeatherApp(QWidget):
    def __init__(self):
        super().__init__()
        self.initUI()

    def initUI(self):
        vbox = QVBoxLayout()

        self.lbl_weather = QLabel()
        vbox.addWidget(self.lbl_weather)

        btn_fetch = QPushButton('Fetch Weather')
        btn_fetch.clicked.connect(self.fetch_weather)
        vbox.addWidget(btn_fetch)

        self.setLayout(vbox)
        self.setWindowTitle('Weather App')
        self.show()

    def fetch_weather(self):
        url = 'http://api.openweathermap.org/data/2.5/weather?q=London&appid=YOUR_API_KEY'
        response = requests.get(url)
        data = response.json()
        temp = data['main']['temp']
        self.lbl_weather.setText(f'Temperature: {temp} K')

if __name__ == '__main__':
    app = QApplication(sys.argv)
    weather_app = WeatherApp()
    sys.exit(app.exec_())

In summary, PyQt is a more powerful and feature-rich toolkit compared to Tkinter, making it a good choice for developing complex, professional desktop applications. However, for simpler applications or for beginners, Tkinter may be the more appropriate choice due to its ease of use and built-in nature. Ultimately, the choice between PyQt and Tkinter depends on the specific requirements and scope of your project.