Bad Craft Launcher: UI Development Insights
Hey guys! Let's dive into the nitty-gritty of developing the user interface (UI) for the Bad Craft Launcher. This is a project built using Rust, and as you might guess, we want a sleek, modern look. The choices we make here impact not just how the launcher looks, but also how well it performs and feels to use. So, let's see what we're dealing with and how we plan to tackle it.
The Rust UI Challenge and the Tauri 2.0 Consideration
Okay, so because we're building Bad Craft Launcher with Rust, our options for creating a modern UI are somewhat limited. The primary path forward, at least initially, led us to Tauri 2.0. Why Tauri? Well, it's a framework that lets us build cross-platform desktop apps using web technologies (HTML, CSS, JavaScript) rendered within a native WebView. This means we can leverage the power of the web ecosystem for UI design. However, Tauri 2.0 comes with some trade-offs. It essentially wraps a system's WebView, and while it's a solid solution for many, it introduces considerations like memory usage and application size that we need to keep in mind.
Now, for Bad Craft Launcher, we want to ensure it runs smoothly and doesn't hog system resources. We want to avoid the same pitfalls as BakaXL 4.0 which also uses Tauri. The use of WebView may have a negative impact on the user experience, which is not the intended outcome. We are trying to optimize the balance between a fancy UI and performance. After much consideration, it was determined that an alternative UI framework should be sought to ensure that our goals were met. This led me to consider some new and interesting options.
Choosing GPUI 2.0: A Fresh Approach
Instead of going the same route as BakaXL 4.0, I decided to explore GPUI 2.0. This is an application framework that is used in the Zed editor. It uses a more modern approach to UI development. The appeal of GPUI 2.0 is its potential for better performance and a more native feel, which aligns perfectly with our goals for Bad Craft Launcher. It's designed to be efficient and can handle complex UI interactions smoothly. The main difference between using Tauri and GPUI comes down to how the UI is rendered. Tauri relies on the system's WebView, while GPUI renders directly, which can potentially offer more control over performance and a more seamless user experience.
Now, here's the kicker: GPUI 2.0 is still relatively new and under active development. This means there aren't a ton of tutorials or extensive documentation out there yet. We cannot go to Google and search for a specific tutorial to resolve an issue. We are forced to go through the source code of the Zed editor to understand the UI application framework. This presents a learning curve, as we'll need to delve into the Zed editor's source code. That process will give us some insight into how to use the framework and create the UI for our launcher.
This means I'll need to invest a significant amount of time studying GPUI 2.0, understanding its nuances, and figuring out how to apply it to the Bad Craft Launcher project. It's like learning a new language—you need to immerse yourself in the code and the concepts to become fluent. This may take some time, and it may be difficult to implement.
Seeking Community Contribution
We absolutely welcome contributions from any developers who want to get involved! This project thrives on community input and collaboration, especially when it comes to tackling the challenges of a new UI framework. If you have some experience with GPUI 2.0 or you are interested in learning, we would love for you to contribute. Every bit of help helps us move the project forward. We are a community-driven project, and we can accomplish much more together than we ever could alone. The more we collaborate, the faster we can push the project forward.
At the current stage of development, I, @TNTyep520, am the primary developer leading the charge. Due to academic commitments, I don't have unlimited time to dedicate to the project. Because of this, it is important to highlight how every contribution helps the project. I will do my best to improve various functions. So any help you can offer to the project will be greatly appreciated.
The Contingency Plan: Tauri 2.0 as a Backup
Now, let's be realistic. If implementing the UI with GPUI 2.0 proves to be too challenging, or if we hit a roadblock that we can't overcome, we have a backup plan. If we can't write the UI using GPUI 2.0, we'll have to revert to using Tauri 2.0 to create the UI. This ensures that we can still deliver a functional launcher. Although, it will come with some of the tradeoffs discussed earlier. Using Tauri 2.0 would require us to go back to where we started.
This is a calculated risk. I'm optimistic about GPUI 2.0, but we have to be prepared for anything. Our priority is to deliver a great user experience while staying within our development timeline. It's all about balancing innovation and practicality. So, it's all about flexibility and knowing when to adapt. The choice we make will depend on the progress we make with GPUI 2.0. Hopefully, the project can benefit from the benefits that GPUI has to offer.
The Path Forward: Learning and Iteration
For now, the path forward is clear: It's all about learning, experimenting, and iterating. I'll be dedicating time to studying GPUI 2.0, testing its capabilities, and starting to design the UI for Bad Craft Launcher. This means understanding its core concepts, exploring its features, and seeing how it can be used to build a modern, efficient UI. This will involve a lot of trial and error and frequent testing. This is just part of the learning process. The goal is to come up with the best solution to give the user a great experience.
We'll be documenting our progress, sharing our findings, and welcoming any input from the community. The more we share and collaborate, the better our final product will be. The better the final product, the more people who will use it. With community input, this project will hopefully become better.
It's a journey, and we're excited to have you along for the ride! Stay tuned for more updates, and feel free to reach out with any questions or ideas. Let's make Bad Craft Launcher awesome together! We need your help to make this a reality. The future is in your hands. Let's work together to make something great. We are excited to see what we can accomplish together. So let's get to work!