How to Build a Python GUI Application With wxPython

In this lesson we want to learn How to Build a Python GUI Application With wxPython.

Contents hide

1 What is Python GUI ?

3 What is wxPython ?

4 What are Key Features of wxPython ?

5 How to Install wxPython ?

6 Steps to Create Python GUI with wxPython

7 Widgets in wxPython

8 Learn More on Python

What is Python GUI ?

Python GUI or Graphical User Interface, refers to visual interface that a user interacts with in order to use a software application. It’s a type of interface that allows users to interact with application through graphical elements, such as buttons, text boxes, and drop-down menus, instead of command-line interface.

In Python programming there are several libraries available that allow you to create GUI applications, such as Tkinter, wxPython, PyGTK, PyQt, and others. these libraries provide a way to design the graphical interface, handle user input, and interact with the underlying application logic.

Building a GUI in Python can greatly improve the user experience and make your application more accessible to more users, as we know that everyone is not comfortable with a command-line interface. whether you’re building a desktop application, a web app, or a mobile app, having a well-designed GUI can make a huge difference in the user experience and overall success of your application.

What are Popular Python GUI Frameworks ?

There are several popular Python GUI frameworks that you can use to build your applications. these are some of the most commonly used ones:

Tkinter: Tkinter is standard GUI library for Python and is included with most Python installations. It provides a simple way to create GUI applications and is suitable for small to medium-sized projects, and you don’t need to install this.

wxPython: wxPython is GUI toolkit that provides native look and feel on multiple platforms, including Windows, MacOS, and Linux. it offers different features, including support for widgets, dialogs and many more.
PyGTK: PyGTK is set of Python bindings for the GTK+ GUI toolkit. it provides a rich set of GUI elements and is used by many popular open-source projects, such as GIMP and GNOME.
PyQt: PyQt is set of Python bindings for the Qt GUI toolkit. It’s known for its powerful features and is used by many large enterprises and commercial software products.

Pygame: Pygame is a library for creating games and multimedia applications. It provides a simple way to create graphical elements, handle user input, and create animations.
Kivy: Kivy is an open-source library for creating cross-platform GUI applications. It’s especially suited for mobile app development and provides support for touch inputs and gestures.

Each of these GUI frameworks has its own strengths and weaknesses, so the best one for your project will depend on your specific needs and requirements. and it is good exploring a few of them to find the one that best fits your needs.

What is wxPython ?

wxPython is cross-platform GUI toolkit for the Python programming language. it allows developers to create graphical user interfaces (GUIs) for desktop and mobile applications in straightforward and efficient manner.

wxPython is built on top of the wxWidgets C++ library and provides Python bindings for the library’s functionality. it means that wxPython applications can run on multiple platforms, including Windows, MacOS, and Linux, and have native look and feel on each platform.

wxPython provides different features for GUI development, including support for buttons, text boxes, dialogs, and manymore. It also provides an event-driven programming model that makes it easy to respond to user interactions and update the GUI dynamically.

wxPython is widely used in both commercial and open-source projects, and is known for its stability, ease of use, and rich feature set. Whether you’re building a desktop application, a mobile app, or a web app, wxPython can provide you with the tools you need to create a great user experience.

What are Key Features of wxPython ?

wxPython is a powerful GUI toolkit that provides a wide range of features for developing graphical user interfaces. Here are some of the key features of wxPython:

Cross-platform compatibility: wxPython applications can run on Windows, MacOS, and Linux, and have a native look and feel on each platform.

Wide range of widgets: wxPython provides a wide range of widgets, including buttons, text boxes, list boxes, and more, that can be used to create a variety of user interfaces.
Event-driven programming: wxPython uses an event-driven programming model, which makes it easy to respond to user interactions and update the GUI dynamically.
Support for dialogs: wxPython provides a range of dialogs, such as file open/save dialogs, message dialogs, and more, that can be used to interact with the user.

Rich documentation and community: wxPython has a large community of users and developers and a rich set of documentation and resources, making it easy to get started and find help when you need it.
Customizable appearance: wxPython provides a wide range of customization options, including support for custom skins, custom fonts and colors, and more, making it easy to create a unique and branded look for your application.
Support for GUI layout: wxPython provides a layout management system that makes it easy to arrange widgets in a user-friendly way, regardless of the size of the user’s screen.

Advanced features: wxPython also provides advanced features, such as support for drag-and-drop, printing, and more, that can be used to create more sophisticated applications.

These are some of key features of wxPython, and demonstrate why it is a popular choice for Python GUI development. you can build any kind of application using wxPython, from simple desktop applications or complex enterprise level applications, wxPython can provide you with the tools you need to create a great user experience.

How to Install wxPython ?

Installing wxPython is relatively straightforward, and can be done in a few different ways. Here’s how to install wxPython on a few different platforms:

Windows: To install wxPython on Windows, you can download the installation package from the wxPython website and run the installer. The installer will guide you through the installation process, and you should have wxPython installed on your system in a matter of minutes.
MacOS: To install wxPython on MacOS, you can use the Homebrew package manager. To do this, open a terminal window and run the following command:

brew install wxpython

1	brew install wxpython

Linux: To install wxPython on Linux, you can use the package manager for your distribution. For example, on Ubuntu, you can run the following command in a terminal window:

sudo apt-get install python3-wxgtk4.0

1	sudo apt-get install python3-wxgtk4.0

On other distributions, you may need to use a different package manager, or install wxPython manually.

Once you have wxPython installed, you can start using it in your Python projects by importing the wx module in your code. If you run into any issues or have questions during the installation process, the wxPython community is a great resource and is always happy to help.

Steps to Create Python GUI with wxPython

Building a GUI (graphical user interface) application in Python using wxPython library is a great way to make your applications more user-friendly and visually appealing. this is step-by-step guide on how to build Python GUI application with wxPython.

Install wxPython: Before you can start building a GUI application with wxPython, you need to install it. You can install wxPython by running the following command in your terminal or command prompt:

pip install wxPython

1	pip install wxPython

Import the necessary modules: In your Python script, import the necessary wxPython modules to get started. You’ll typically need to import the wx module and any other modules you want to use, such as wx.Frame for creating a frame window, wx.Button for creating buttons, and wx.StaticText for displaying static text. Here’s an example:

import wx

class MyFrame(wx.Frame):
    def __init__(self, parent, title):
        wx.Frame.__init__(self, parent, title=title)

import wx

class MyFrame(wx.Frame):

def __init__(self, parent, title):

wx.Frame.__init__(self, parent, title=title)

Create a frame window: In wxPython, a frame is the top-level window that serves as the container for other widgets. You can create a frame by defining a class that inherits from the wx.Frame class and overriding the __init__ method. In the __init__ method, you can specify the frame’s title, size, and position. Here’s an example:

class MyFrame(wx.Frame):
    def __init__(self, parent, title):
        wx.Frame.__init__(self, parent, title=title, size=(300, 200))
        self.Centre()

class MyFrame(wx.Frame):

def __init__(self, parent, title):

wx.Frame.__init__(self, parent, title=title, size=(300, 200))

self.Centre()

This is the complete code for How to Build a Python GUI Application With wxPython.

import wx

class MyFrame(wx.Frame):
    def __init__(self, parent, title):
        wx.Frame.__init__(self, parent, title=title, size=(300, 200))
        self.Centre()

app = wx.App()
frame = MyFrame(None, 'My Frame')
frame.Show()
app.MainLoop()

import wx

class MyFrame(wx.Frame):

def __init__(self, parent, title):

wx.Frame.__init__(self, parent, title=title, size=(300, 200))

self.Centre()

app = wx.App()

frame = MyFrame(None, 'My Frame')

frame.Show()

app.MainLoop()

The code above creates an instance of the wx.App class, which is the main application object in wxPython. Then it creates an instance of the MyFrame class, passing None as the parent argument and a title of “My Frame”. Finally, it calls the Show method on the frame to display it on the screen. The MainLoop method on the wx.App object starts the event loop that processes user events and updates the GUI.

With this code, you should see a window with the title “My Frame” and the default size of 300×200 pixels appear on your screen.

Run the complete code and this will be the result.

How to Build a Python GUI Application With wxPython

Widgets in wxPython

Here are some of the most commonly used widgets in wxPython:

wx.Button: A button that can be clicked to perform an action.
wx.CheckBox: A checkbox that can be checked or unchecked to indicate the state of a boolean option.
wx.Choice: A dropdown menu that allows the user to select one item from a list of choices.

wx.TextCtrl: A text box that allows the user to enter text.
wx.RadioButton: A radio button that allows the user to select one item from a group of mutually exclusive options.
wx.StaticText: A non-editable text label.

wx.ListBox: A list box that allows the user to select one or more items from a list.
wx.ComboBox: A combination of a text box and a dropdown menu that allows the user to either type a value or select one from a list.
wx.Slider: A slider that allows the user to select a value within a range by dragging a thumb.

wx.Gauge: A progress bar that indicates the progress of a task.

These are just a few of the many widgets available in wxPython. To use these widgets, you create instances of the widget classes, set their properties as needed, and add them to a frame or other container. You can also use sizers to control the size and layout of the widgets within the frame.

Here are some examples that demonstrate how to use some of the widgets in wxPython:

import wx


class MyFrame(wx.Frame):
    def __init__(self, parent, title):
        wx.Frame.__init__(self, parent, title=title, size=(300, 200))
        self.Centre()

        # create a button and add it to the frame
        button = wx.Button(self, label='Click Me!')
        button.Bind(wx.EVT_BUTTON, self.on_button_click)

        # create a checkbox and add it to the frame
        checkbox = wx.CheckBox(self, label='Check Me!')
        checkbox.Bind(wx.EVT_CHECKBOX, self.on_checkbox_click)

        # create a text box and add it to the frame
        text_ctrl = wx.TextCtrl(self)

        # create a sizer and add the widgets to it
        sizer = wx.BoxSizer(wx.VERTICAL)
        sizer.Add(button, 0, wx.ALL, 10)
        sizer.Add(checkbox, 0, wx.ALL, 10)
        sizer.Add(text_ctrl, 0, wx.ALL | wx.EXPAND, 10)

        # set the sizer for the frame
        self.SetSizer(sizer)

    def on_button_click(self, event):
        print('Button clicked!')

    def on_checkbox_click(self, event):
        print('Checkbox clicked!')


app = wx.App()
frame = MyFrame(None, 'My Frame')
frame.Show()
app.MainLoop()

import wx

class MyFrame(wx.Frame):

def __init__(self, parent, title):

wx.Frame.__init__(self, parent, title=title, size=(300, 200))

self.Centre()

# create a button and add it to the frame

button = wx.Button(self, label='Click Me!')

button.Bind(wx.EVT_BUTTON, self.on_button_click)

# create a checkbox and add it to the frame

checkbox = wx.CheckBox(self, label='Check Me!')

checkbox.Bind(wx.EVT_CHECKBOX, self.on_checkbox_click)

# create a text box and add it to the frame

text_ctrl = wx.TextCtrl(self)

# create a sizer and add the widgets to it

sizer = wx.BoxSizer(wx.VERTICAL)

sizer.Add(button, 0, wx.ALL, 10)

sizer.Add(checkbox, 0, wx.ALL, 10)

sizer.Add(text_ctrl, 0, wx.ALL | wx.EXPAND, 10)

# set the sizer for the frame

self.SetSizer(sizer)

def on_button_click(self, event):

print('Button clicked!')

def on_checkbox_click(self, event):

print('Checkbox clicked!')

app = wx.App()

frame = MyFrame(None, 'My Frame')

frame.Show()

app.MainLoop()

This code creates a frame with a button, a checkbox, and a text box. The button and checkbox have event handlers attached to them using the Bind method that are called when the button or checkbox is clicked. The widgets are added to a vertical sizer, which is then set as the sizer for the frame. The sizer controls the layout of the widgets within the frame.

Note: Keep in mind that this is just a simple example to give you an idea of how to use some of the widgets in wxPython. To build a complete and functional GUI application, you will need to use multiple widgets and sizers, and handle a variety of events and user actions.

Run the complete code and this will be the result.