HTMLUI is a modern, lightweight C++ UI library that lets you build powerful native GUI applications using HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. It leverages GTK and WebKit2 to render HTML content and seamlessly integrate JavaScript callbacks into native C++ logic.

Created by ghgltggamer — Licensed under the MIT License

• Render HTML and CSS in native C++ windows
• Load HTML from strings, files, or URLs
• Call native C++ functions from JavaScript
• Execute JavaScript from C++
• Fine-tune WebKit settings for performance or security
• Auto flush queued JS when DOM is ready
• MIT licensed and fully open-source

• GTK 3
• WebKit2GTK
• C++17 or newer

Install dependencies on Arch Linux:

sudo pacman -S gtk3 webkit2gtk

Or on Ubuntu/Debian:

sudo apt install libgtk-3-dev libwebkit2gtk-4.0-dev

You can build your application with any build system. Example using g++:

g++ main.cpp -o app `pkg-config --cflags --libs gtk+-3.0 webkit2gtk-4.0`

#include "htmlui.h"
int main() {
 HTMLUI app("My HTMLUI App", 800, 600);
 app.loadFile("index.html");
 app.registerFunction("sayHello", [](const std::string& name) {
 std::cout << "Hello, " << name << "!" << std::endl;
 });
 app.run();
}

Then in your index.html:

<button onclick="sayHello('World')">Click Me</button>

Creates a new window with the given title and dimensions.

Loads raw HTML content into the window.

Loads a local .html file using a full or relative path.

Loads a remote or local URL (e.g., http://example.com or file:///path/to/file.html).

Starts the GTK main loop.

Exposes a C++ function to JavaScript with a given name. JavaScript can then call window.functionName(arg).

Executes a JavaScript string. If DOM isn't ready yet, it will be queued and run after load.

Changes WebKit settings dynamically.

Supported setting strings:

• "javascript"
• "developer_extras"
• "webgl"
• "file_access"
• "universal_access"
• "resizable_text_areas"
• "smooth_scrolling"

You can invoke C++ functions from JS like so:

window.nativeBridge.invoke ("sayHello", "yourargs");

Behind the scenes, HTMLUI injects:

window.nativeBridge = {
 invoke: function(funcName, arg) {
 window.webkit.messageHandlers.nativeCallback.postMessage(funcName + ':' + arg);
 }
};

When you register a function in C++, it's automatically exposed to JS.

This project is licensed under the MIT License.

• GitHub: https://github.com/darkyboys/HTMLUI