Slint GUI Expert

A comprehensive guide for developing modern GUI applications using Slint with Rust. This skill is built directly from the official Slint repository and covers everything from basic component creation to advanced performance optimization and cross-platform deployment.

🎯 Getting Started with Official Tutorial

The best way to start is by following the official tutorial:

1. Start Here: @source/docs/astro/src/content/docs/tutorial/quickstart.mdx
2. Basic Project: Use templates/basic-app/
3. Example Study: Review @source/examples/memory/
4. Reference: Browse @source/examples/gallery/

Quick Start with Template

# Use our pre-configured template
cp -r templates/basic-app/ my-first-slint-app/
cd my-first-slint-app/
cargo run

Quick Start

Basic Slint Application

// Cargo.toml
[dependencies]
slint = "1.13"

// main.rs
slint::slint! {
    export component AppWindow inherits Window {
        Text {
            text: "Hello, Slint!";
            color: #3498db;
            font-size: 24px;
            horizontal-alignment: center;
        }
    }
}

fn main() -> Result<(), slint::PlatformError> {
    let app = AppWindow::new()?;
    app.run()
}

Project Structure

my-slint-app/
├── Cargo.toml
├── build.rs
└── src/
    ├── main.rs
    └── ui/
        └── main.slint

Core Concepts

1. Component Architecture

Component Definition

export component Button inherits Rectangle {
    property <string> text: "Click me";
    property <color> background-color: #3498db;
    property <bool> enabled: true;

    callback clicked();

    background: background-color;
    border-radius: 8px;

    Text {
        text: root.text;
        color: enabled ? white : #cccccc;
        horizontal-alignment: center;
        vertical-alignment: center;
    }

    TouchArea {
        enabled: root.enabled;
        clicked => { root.clicked(); }
    }
}

Rust Integration

slint::include_modules!();

fn main() -> Result<(), slint::PlatformError> {
    let main_window = MainWindow::new()?;

    let window_weak = main_window.as_weak();
    main_window.on_submit_clicked(move || {
        let window = window_weak.unwrap();
        println!("Submit button clicked!");
    });

    main_window.run()
}

2. Layout Systems

VerticalLayout

export component LoginScreen inherits Window {
    VerticalLayout {
        spacing: 20px;
        padding: 40px;

        Text {
            text: "Login";
            font-size: 32px;
            font-weight: bold;
        }

        TextInput {
            placeholder-text: "Username";
        }

        TextInput {
            placeholder-text: "Password";
            input-type: password;
        }

        Button {
            text: "Login";
            clicked => { /* login logic */ }
        }
    }
}

GridLayout

export component Dashboard inherits Window {
    GridLayout {
        spacing: 10px;
        padding: 20px;

        Row[1, 2, 3] {
            Column[1] {
                Text { text: "Revenue"; }
                Text { text: "$10,234"; font-size: 24px; }
            }
        }
    }
}

3. Data Binding and State Management

Properties and Bindings

export component Counter inherits Window {
    property <int> count: 0;
    property <string> status: count > 10 ? "High" : "Low";

    VerticalLayout {
        Text {
            text: "Count: " + count;
            font-size: 24px;
        }

        Button {
            text: "+";
            clicked => { count += 1; }
        }
    }
}

Rust State Integration

use slint::{SharedString, ModelRc, VecModel};

fn main() -> Result<(), slint::PlatformError> {
    let app = MainWindow::new()?;

    let items = VecModel::from(vec![
        SharedString::from("Item 1"),
        SharedString::from("Item 2"),
    ]);

    app.set_items(ModelRc::new(items));

    app.run()
}

4. Styling and Themes

Custom Styling

export component ThemedApp inherits Window {
    @theme.primary := #3498db;
    @theme.secondary := #2ecc71;

    background: @theme.background;

    Text {
        text: "Themed Application";
        color: @theme.text;
    }

    Button {
        text: "Primary Action";
        background: @theme.primary;
    }
}

5. Animations

Property Animations

export component AnimatedButton inherits Rectangle {
    property <color> hover-color: #3498db;
    property <length> scale: 1.0;

    background: hover-color;
    border-radius: 8px;

    animate scale { duration: 200ms; easing: ease-out; }
    animate hover-color { duration: 300ms; }

    TouchArea {
        mouse-entered => {
            root.scale = 1.1;
            root.hover-color = #2980b9;
        }

        mouse-exited => {
            root.scale = 1.0;
            root.hover-color = #3498db;
        }
    }
}

📚 Official Resources and Learning Materials

🎯 Primary Learning Path (Recommended)

1. Official Tutorial: @source/docs/astro/src/content/docs/tutorial/ - Complete memory game tutorial
2. Working Examples: @source/examples/memory/ - Tutorial implementation
3. Component Reference: @source/examples/gallery/ - All UI components
4. Language Guide: @source/docs/astro/src/content/docs/guide/language/ - Complete syntax reference

📖 Official Documentation

This skill includes the complete official Slint repository as a git submodule in the source/ directory:

• 🎓 Tutorial: @source/docs/astro/src/content/docs/tutorial/ - Step-by-step learning
• 📋 Language: @source/docs/astro/src/content/docs/guide/language/ - Complete language specification
• 🔧 API: @source/api/rs/slint/ - Rust API documentation
• 💎 Examples: @source/examples/ - Extensive working examples
• 🎨 UI Libraries: @source/ui-libraries/ - Material & Fluent components

🛠️ Skill-Specific Resources

• docs/ - Navigation guide for official documentation
• examples/ - Curated learning paths with official examples
• templates/ - Ready-to-use project templates
• SOURCE_STRUCTURE.md - Complete skill structure mapping

Quick Reference

Essential APIs

• slint::slint!{} - Define .slint components inline
• slint::include_modules!() - Include .slint files from build
• Component::new()? - Create component instances
• window.as_weak() - Get weak reference for callbacks
• ModelRc::new(VecModel::from(...)) - Create data models

Project Structure

my-app/
├── Cargo.toml
├── build.rs
├── src/
│   ├── main.rs
│   └── ui/
│       └── main.slint
└── assets/
    ├── icons/
    └── images/

Common Patterns

• Use properties for component configuration
• Prefer composition over inheritance
• Use weak references for callbacks to avoid cycles
• Implement proper error handling in Rust integration

Troubleshooting

Common Issues:

• Compilation errors: Check .slint syntax and Rust integration
• Performance issues: Optimize layout complexity and data models
• Memory leaks: Use weak references and proper cleanup
• Platform-specific bugs: Test on target platforms early

Debug Techniques:

• Use slint::debug_log!() for logging
• Enable debug mode in build configuration
• Test with different rendering backends
• Profile memory usage and rendering performance

See references/ADVANCED.md for advanced topics including custom components, performance optimization, and cross-platform development. See references/PATTERNS.md for common UI patterns like forms, navigation, and async operations.