GUI ideas for use with wxGlade

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wxPerl / wxGlade Application Template Catalog

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This page catalogs GUI mockups, template applications, and app ideas from the wxPerl-wxGlade-Templates repository.

The repository collects wxGlade .wxg project files and working Perl driver scripts that generate wxPerl GUIs directly from wxGlade output. These examples are intended to serve as starting points for real wxPerl desktop applications.

For setup instructions, see:

Purpose

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The goal of this catalog is to make it easier for Perl programmers to find practical wxGlade GUI ideas that can be copied, studied, modified, and eventually turned into working wxPerl desktop applications.

These examples are especially useful for:

  • learning wxGlade layout techniques
  • testing wxPerl widgets on Windows
  • building simple commercial desktop utilities
  • creating GUI front ends for existing Perl scripts
  • prototyping Windows-style applications with Perl
  • preserving classic desktop UI patterns that still work well

Repository

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AI-Assisted wxGlade Template Generation

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ChatGPT and similar AI tools can be useful for generating first-draft wxGlade XML files. This can be especially helpful when starting from a description such as:

  • "make a two-pane FTP client layout"
  • "make a PuTTY-style configuration dialog"
  • "make a Windows 95-style help viewer"
  • "make a tabbed search interface with a results grid"
  • "make a scientific data browser with a tree view, metadata pane, and plot area"

The generated XML should be treated as a starting point, not a finished application. Always open the file in wxGlade, inspect the widget tree, fix layout issues, and test the generated Perl code.

AI-generated wxGlade files are most useful for:

  • quickly prototyping an interface idea
  • creating a rough widget hierarchy
  • experimenting with sizers and panels
  • generating repetitive boilerplate layouts
  • turning a hand-drawn mockup or written app idea into a first editable .wxg file

A practical workflow is: 

Describe the desired GUI → Generate wxGlade XML → Open in wxGlade → Fix layout/details → Generate Perl code → Add real Perl logic

This does not replace wxGlade. It gives Perl programmers a faster way to get an initial layout into wxGlade so they can continue refining it visually.

Application Ideas and Templates

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Windows Help GUI

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Windows Help GUI wxGlade template screenshot

A classic Windows 95/98-style help viewer layout.

Status: Template / mockup

What it demonstrates:

  • menu-driven application layout
  • help/document viewer style
  • navigation pane plus content pane
  • classic Windows desktop design

Possible Perl uses:

  • local documentation viewer
  • offline manual reader
  • FAQ browser
  • product support utility
  • help system for a packaged Perl application

Netscape 2.0 Clone

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Netscape 2.0 style wxGlade template screenshot

A retro browser-style interface inspired by early Netscape.

Status: Template / mockup

What it demonstrates:

  • menu bar
  • toolbar buttons
  • location/address field
  • large content area
  • status bar
  • classic browser-style workflow

Possible Perl uses:

  • HTML documentation shell
  • internal web viewer
  • archive browser
  • local content navigator
  • kiosk-style viewer

PuTTY Configuration Pane

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PuTTY configuration pane wxGlade template screenshot

A configuration dialog inspired by PuTTY's familiar settings layout.

Status: Template / mockup

What it demonstrates:

  • category tree
  • grouped settings panels
  • form controls
  • dialog buttons
  • configuration-heavy application design

Possible Perl uses:

  • SSH profile manager
  • rsync/SFTP launcher
  • server connection manager
  • backup configuration tool
  • cluster login helper
  • settings editor for a Perl utility

WS-FTP Clone

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WS-FTP style wxGlade template screenshot

A classic two-pane file transfer client layout.

Status: Template / mockup

What it demonstrates:

  • dual-pane file manager interface
  • connection controls
  • list views
  • transfer queue area
  • old-school but still-useful desktop file workflow

Possible Perl uses:

  • FTP/SFTP client
  • deployment tool
  • file sync GUI
  • webhost upload utility
  • batch transfer manager
  • local/remote file comparison tool

LimeWire-Style Interface

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LimeWire style wxGlade template screenshot

A search-and-results interface inspired by classic peer-to-peer software.

Status: Template / mockup

What it demonstrates:

  • search field
  • results grid
  • tabs
  • sidebar navigation
  • progress/list panes
  • search-driven desktop workflow

Possible Perl uses:

  • archive search tool
  • CPAN package browser
  • media catalog
  • dataset searcher
  • internal document finder
  • OCR search front end
  • eBay/archive research tool

NetCDF Explorer

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NetCDF Explorer wxGlade template screenshot

A scientific data browser idea intended to pair well with Strawberry Perl, PDL, and scientific Perl tooling.

Status: Template / app idea

What it demonstrates:

  • scientific data browser layout
  • dataset navigation
  • variable lists
  • metadata panes
  • plotting/viewer area
  • workflow for technical users

Possible Perl uses:

  • NetCDF viewer
  • PDL-based data explorer
  • ADCIRC/ASGS result browser
  • HDF/NetCDF inspection utility
  • CSV/SQLite scientific data viewer
  • teaching tool for scientific Perl

NHC Advisory Explorer

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NHC Advisory Explorer screenshot 1

NHC Advisory Explorer screenshot 2

NHC Advisory Explorer screenshot 3

The NHC Advisory Explorer is a real wxPerl application rather than just a mockup. It has an available Windows executable release.

Status: Implemented; Windows EXE release available

What it demonstrates:

  • real wxPerl application workflow
  • advisory navigation
  • weather text/data display
  • practical desktop packaging
  • turning a wxGlade layout into a useful application

Possible Perl uses:

  • hurricane advisory browser
  • emergency-management tool
  • weather data front end
  • wxPerl packaging example
  • example of shipping a Perl GUI as a normal Windows executable

Suggested Template Categories

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Classic Windows Utilities

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Good examples:

  • Windows Help GUI
  • PuTTY Configuration Pane
  • WS-FTP Clone

These are useful because they model familiar desktop patterns that ordinary Windows users already understand.

Possible apps:

  • configuration editors
  • log viewers
  • backup managers
  • system inventory tools
  • connection/profile managers
  • installer front ends
  • INI / YAML / JSON editors

Internet and Network Tools

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Good examples:

  • Netscape 2.0 Clone
  • PuTTY Configuration Pane
  • WS-FTP Clone
  • LimeWire-style Interface

Possible apps:

  • SSH/SFTP launcher
  • website deployment GUI
  • CPAN mirror browser
  • FTP/SFTP batch uploader
  • network scanner front end
  • API test client
  • simple web archive browser

Search, Archive, and Catalog Tools

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Good examples:

  • LimeWire-style Interface
  • Netscape 2.0 Clone
  • Windows Help GUI

Possible apps:

  • local document search
  • eBay/archive search front end
  • image OCR search tool
  • CPAN module browser
  • source-code search tool
  • PDF/manual index browser

Scientific and Engineering Tools

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Good examples:

  • NetCDF Explorer
  • NHC Advisory Explorer

Possible apps:

  • NetCDF/HDF data explorer
  • PDL plotting front end
  • ADCIRC/ASGS results viewer
  • meteorological data browser
  • CSV/SQLite data inspector
  • sensor log viewer
  • engineering calculator collection

Commercial Desktop Utilities

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These are simple programs that could realistically be sold, bundled, or used internally by small businesses.

Possible apps:

  • invoice helper
  • customer lookup tool
  • report generator
  • file renamer
  • batch image processor
  • shipping label assistant
  • data cleanup tool
  • small SQLite-backed business app
  • upload/deployment utility
  • quote/order tracker

Suggested Repository Layout

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A useful structure for each template would be: 

template-name/
  README.md
  screenshot.png
  template.wxg
  generated/
    MyFrame.pm
  driver.pl
  dist/
    build-notes.md

Recommended files:

  • README.md - what the template demonstrates
  • template.wxg - wxGlade project file
  • driver.pl - minimal runnable Perl script
  • screenshot.png - current screenshot
  • build-notes.md - notes about Strawberry Perl, wxPerl, DLLs, packaging, or installer creation

Suggested README Fields for Each Template

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Each template should ideally document:

Name
Human-readable name of the template or application idea.
Status
Mockup, partial implementation, working prototype, packaged release, abandoned, etc.
Purpose
What kind of application this layout is good for.
Widgets Used
Major wxWidgets/wxPerl controls demonstrated.
Perl Modules
Useful Perl modules that pair well with the template.
Tested On
Strawberry Perl version, wxPerl version, Windows version, etc.
Packaging Notes
Any notes about building an EXE or installer.
Screenshot
Link or local file reference.

Widget Patterns to Demonstrate

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Future templates should try to cover common wxPerl/wxGlade patterns such as:

  • main frame with menu bar and status bar
  • toolbar-driven application
  • tabbed notebook interface
  • split-pane application
  • tree navigation plus detail panel
  • dual-pane file manager
  • modal configuration dialog
  • wizard-style workflow
  • searchable list/grid interface
  • log viewer with controls
  • progress dialog for long-running Perl tasks
  • system tray utility
  • SQLite-backed data-entry form
  • plot/image viewer shell

Notes on Clone-Style Templates

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Some templates intentionally resemble well-known classic applications. These should be treated as UI studies and educational examples, not as trademarked product replacements.

When turning a template into a real application:

  • use your own application name
  • use your own icons and artwork
  • avoid copying trademarks
  • keep the useful layout pattern
  • replace mockup controls with real Perl logic

Why This Matters

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wxPerl and wxGlade give Perl programmers a practical path to creating normal-looking desktop applications, especially on Windows. A good collection of templates lowers the barrier to entry by giving programmers something visual and runnable to start from.

The real advantage is simple:

Use wxGlade to design the interface. Use Perl to make it useful. Package it so users never need to know it was Perl.

See Also

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