Lightweight UI tool works across Windows versions

By Jonathan Angel
2009-10-15

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U.K.-based ByteSnap has launched a user interface (UI) customization tool that runs on Windows CE, Windows Mobile, and Windows desktop systems. "SnapUI" has an extremely small code footprint, defines interfaces via XML (Extensible Markup Language) files, and allows designers to make changes without code recompilation, the company says.

ByteSnap states that most existing tools for creating Windows user interfaces are best suited for desktop application development, or negatively impact performance because they use the .NET Framework. The lightweight SnapUI tool, in contrast, does not slow down systems, and has an "extremely small" code footprint, according to the company.

SnapUI compiles and runs on Windows CE, Windows Mobile, as well as both 32- and 64-bit editions of Windows XP, Windows Vista, and Windows 7, says ByteSnap. As a result, the company states, it's easy for UIs created using the tool to be developed and tested on desktop machines before being deployed to target devices.

SnapUI architecture
(Click to enlarge)

According to ByteSnap, UIs are defined in XML-based configuration files rather than a programming language. Therefore, graphic designers can make changes to a device's user interface without code needing to be recompiled, the company says.

The separation of the UI and application has additional major implications for localisation and corporate branding, ByteSnap adds, because a single application can now be designed with multiple interfaces. Through a single XML file and a selection of images, it's said, an application's look and feel can be completely customized, often without additional developer input.

SnapUI also uses specific interface files to match the screen resolution of the final device, meaning that the same UI may be rapidly adapted to different screen resolutions, claims ByteSnap. The product also allows developers to choose which sets of buttons/fields/widgets to show to the user, exposing completely different functionality from a single core application, the company adds.

According to ByteSnap, current UI objects provided by SnapUI include the following:

Icons with full alpha blending support
Sliders
Scroll Bars
Video viewers
Full formatted text support
Generic SQL database output object

SnapUI also includes a media parser for audio, video, and images, plus DirectShow support for A/V playback, the company adds.

An interface created using SnapUI
(Click to enlarge)

A sample SnapUI interface (above) supplied to WindowsForDevices.com by ByteSnap appears to be related to the Plogg (right), a compact power meter previously designed by the company for fellow U.K. firm Energy Optimizers Ltd. The box is designed to be placed between a wall outlet and the appliance that's being monitored, and is touted as combining "highly accurate kilowatt-hour (kWh) measurement with a powerful data logging capability."

The Plogg can operate autonomously, logging power consumption data at preselected intervals of between one minute and one month, according to Energy Optimizers. It can also be connected via Bluetooth to a Windows Mobile device, as illustrated below, or a Windows-based personal computer.

ByteSnap's Plogg Mobile Manager software monitors instantaneous power consumption (left), can control multiple devices (middle), and permits selecting data to be logged (right)
(Click any to enlarge)
Graeme Wintle, director of ByteSnap Design, stated, "SnapUI solves one of the classic software development pitfalls. User interfaces are often overlooked in the rush to get a good application finished, and vice versa. SnapUI is not only fast, lightweight and standards-based, but allows a wide range of UI styles to be displayed from a single application. For example, it's possible to use multiple designs to target different user groups within a single release."

Availability

According to ByteSnap, SnapUI is available now at no cost to the company's customers. More information and examples of the tool's output may be found on the company's website, here.

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