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slint-ui/slint

📈 Trending★ 22,632RustAudience · developerComplexity · 3/5ActiveLicenseSetup · moderate

TLDR

A toolkit for building graphical interfaces that work on desktop, embedded devices, and the web using a markup language separate from your code.

Mindmap

mindmap
  root((Slint))
    What it does
      UI markup language
      Cross-platform GUIs
      Native compilation
    Supported platforms
      Desktop apps
      Embedded devices
      Web browsers
    Languages
      Rust
      C++
      JavaScript
      Python
    Developer tools
      Live preview
      VS Code extension
      Figma importer
    Use cases
      Smart devices
      Industrial panels
      Desktop applications

Things people build with this

USE CASE 1

Build a desktop application with a native UI that runs on Windows, macOS, and Linux without rewriting the interface.

USE CASE 2

Create a control panel for an embedded device like a smart thermostat or industrial machine using a single UI definition.

USE CASE 3

Design a web-based app with a native-feeling interface by compiling your Slint UI to WebAssembly.

USE CASE 4

Prototype and iterate on a UI design quickly using the live-preview tool while writing your app logic in your preferred language.

Tech stack

RustC++JavaScriptPythonWebAssembly

Getting it running

Difficulty · moderate Time to first run · 30min

Requires Rust toolchain and potentially WebAssembly build tools; compilation time may be significant on first run.

Open-source toolkit available under a permissive license allowing free use for any purpose including commercial applications.

In plain English

Slint is an open-source toolkit for building graphical user interfaces (GUIs), the visual windows, buttons, menus, and forms that people interact with in apps. It is designed to work across desktop computers, embedded devices (like microcontrollers and single-board computers), and the web. The way Slint works is that you describe what your interface looks like using a special markup language saved in .slint files, similar in spirit to how a web page is described in HTML. This UI definition is kept separate from the actual program logic, which you write in Rust, C++, JavaScript, or Python. The .slint files are compiled ahead of time into efficient native code, rather than being interpreted at runtime, which keeps the app fast and lightweight. You would use Slint when building a desktop app, an app for a small embedded device (like a smart thermostat or industrial panel), or anything that needs a real native window with buttons and visual elements. It is especially useful when you want the same UI design to work across different platforms without rewriting it each time. The toolkit is written in Rust but exposes APIs for four languages: Rust, C++, JavaScript, and Python. It includes a live-preview tool, a Visual Studio Code extension, and a plugin for importing designs from Figma.

Copy-paste prompts

Prompt 1
Show me how to create a simple button and text field in Slint and connect them to Rust code that updates the text when the button is clicked.
Prompt 2
I want to build a desktop app that works on Windows, macOS, and Linux with the same UI. How do I use Slint to avoid rewriting the interface three times?
Prompt 3
How do I import a Figma design into Slint and then wire it up to my C++ backend logic?
Prompt 4
Walk me through setting up the Slint VS Code extension and using the live preview to see my UI changes in real time.
Prompt 5
Can I use Slint to build a web app? Show me how to compile a Slint UI to WebAssembly and run it in a browser.
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Generated 2026-05-18 · Model: sonnet-4-6 · Verify against the repo before relying on details.