StackOverflow2013

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POGUI Library: How long should it take to write one from scratch?
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copied!<p>For a <em>single</em> C++ programmer, how long <em>should</em> it take to write a GUI framework from scratch? </p> <p>Rough specification: </p> <ol> <li>You have access to boost, image loading functions, font rendering routines, signal-slot, unicode string classes, varaint classes. (basically Qt 4 minus actual gui (everything derived from QWidget)). </li> <li>You'll have to implement standard controls like treeviews, table views, text editors, list box, combo box, buttons, radio buttons, panels, etc. </li> <li>The framework is separated from operating system and does not use any OS objects (window handles). I.e. you operate on raster image or on OpenGL window and receive mouse/keyboard events from OS you have to dispatch/interpret. </li> <li>There are multiple windows that can be moved/minimized/maximized, brought to front.</li> <li>It should be possible to use the library to reimplement any rectangular window using this library (think Win98 gui with animation effects disabled).</li> <li>You are not required to display html pages.</li> <li>You can't cut corners, make bitmap in ms paint, blit it onto screen and say "it is a window". Components have geometry, configurable color, can be resized, "anchored" to different sides of the window, linked to each other and affect each other's sizes and geometry (think Qt 4 layout system).</li> <li>Programmer's skill - average to above average, at least 3 years of C++ experience.</li> </ol> <p>Basically, "Windows desktop" without using windows gdi.</p> <p>I am asking because I'm working for guys that develop something like that from scratch (their needs are very unusual, and afaik no existing gui framework I know matches them), and I have a suspicion that I might be working too slowly, which negatively affects my "morale".</p> <p>Previous people wasted 3 years on this project (they wrote it in Delphi) and have failed to complete it, so the guy in charge decided to scrap it and start over from scratch. Project is very different from traditional guis, but should have somewhat identical complexity.</p> <p>So I need a rough estimate (with arguments or based on work experience) from another programmer for comparison.<br> <em>My</em> estimate is that it would take around 1 year or longer, but I'd like to know whether that is too long.</p>

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