What is the fastest, lightest weight GUI framework?

This page summarizes the projects mentioned and recommended in the original post on reddit.com/r/cpp_questions

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  • imgui

    Dear ImGui: Bloat-free Graphical User interface for C++ with minimal dependencies

    Check out these: https://github.com/ocornut/imgui https://github.com/mikke89/RmlUi

  • RmlUi

    RmlUi - The HTML/CSS User Interface library evolved

    Check out these: https://github.com/ocornut/imgui https://github.com/mikke89/RmlUi

  • Sonar

    Write Clean C++ Code. Always.. Sonar helps you commit clean C++ code every time. With over 550 unique rules to find C++ bugs, code smells & vulnerabilities, Sonar finds the issues while you focus on the work.

  • Ultralight

    Next-generation HTML renderer for apps and games

    If you are interested in writing your UI code using HTML and JavaScript and embedding that UI in your C++ app, I believe the cheapest way to go is UltraLight. Full disclosure, I have not used Ultralight but I have used it's predecessor, Awesomium in personal projects. I have also used Coherent GT in professional projects. I can say this is a great workflow and is fast enough to be used in modern AAA games. It also means that you can be as creative as you can be if you are a web dev.

  • I'm surprised no one has mentioned it but I've been using SciterJS (website) for my most recent project. I wouldn't ever claim it's the best UI framework out there, but it's lightweight and I've never felt so productive - I've rapidly developed my UI and integrated it with my native C++ far faster than I thought possible. I will note that it is far, far cheaper and has so many more features than Ultralight does.

  • sciter

    Sciter: the Embeddable HTML/CSS/JS engine for modern UI development

    I'm surprised no one has mentioned it but I've been using SciterJS (website) for my most recent project. I wouldn't ever claim it's the best UI framework out there, but it's lightweight and I've never felt so productive - I've rapidly developed my UI and integrated it with my native C++ far faster than I thought possible. I will note that it is far, far cheaper and has so many more features than Ultralight does.

  • InfluxDB

    Access the most powerful time series database as a service. Ingest, store, & analyze all types of time series data in a fully-managed, purpose-built database. Keep data forever with low-cost storage and superior data compression.

NOTE: The number of mentions on this list indicates mentions on common posts plus user suggested alternatives. Hence, a higher number means a more popular project.

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