slint-ui/slint

Analysis updated 2026-06-21

★ 22,508RustAudience · developerComplexity · 3/5LicenseSetup · moderate

Mindmap

mindmap
  root((Slint))
    What it does
      Native GUI toolkit
      Declarative UI markup
      Cross-platform targets
    Target Platforms
      Desktop apps
      Embedded devices
      Web browser
    Language Bindings
      Rust
      C++
      JavaScript
      Python
    Features
      Figma plugin
      Live preview tool
      VS Code extension

mindmap root((Slint)) What it does Native GUI toolkit Declarative UI markup Cross-platform targets Target Platforms Desktop apps Embedded devices Web browser Language Bindings Rust C++ JavaScript Python Features Figma plugin Live preview tool VS Code extension

Click or tap to explore — scroll the page freely

What do people build with it?

USE CASE 1

Build a native desktop app with buttons and menus in Rust without writing any platform-specific UI code.

USE CASE 2

Create a touchscreen interface for an embedded device like a smart thermostat using the .slint markup language.

USE CASE 3

Design a GUI in Figma and import it directly into a Slint app using the official Figma plugin.

USE CASE 4

Write the UI layout once in .slint files and target both desktop and web browser from the same codebase.

What is it built with?

RustC++JavaScriptPythonSlint DSL

How does it compare?

	slint-ui/slint	nautechsystems/nautilus_trader	facebook/flow
Stars	22,508	22,544	22,207
Language	Rust	Rust	Rust
Setup difficulty	moderate	moderate	moderate
Complexity	3/5	4/5	3/5
Audience	developer	developer	developer

Figures from each repo's GitHub metadata at analysis time.

How do you get it running?

Difficulty · moderate Time to first run · 1h+

Requires the Rust toolchain for most use cases, commercial license required for proprietary products.

Dual-licensed: GPL v3 for open-source projects, a commercial license is required for proprietary products.

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

Write a .slint UI file with a button and a text label that updates when the button is clicked, connected to Rust logic.

Prompt 2

How do I set up a Slint project in Rust and display a window with a basic form that captures user input?

Prompt 3

Show me how to define a reusable Slint component and use it in multiple screens of my app.

Prompt 4

How do I import a Figma design into a Slint project and wire the UI elements up to Python backend logic?

Prompt 5

Create a Slint interface for a small embedded device showing a temperature reading and two control buttons.

Frequently asked questions

What is slint?

An open-source toolkit for building native desktop and embedded device GUIs using a declarative markup language, with logic written in Rust, C++, JavaScript, or Python.

What language is slint written in?

Mainly Rust. The stack also includes Rust, C++, JavaScript.

What license does slint use?

Dual-licensed: GPL v3 for open-source projects, a commercial license is required for proprietary products.

How hard is slint to set up?

Setup difficulty is rated moderate, with roughly 1h+ to a first successful run.

Who is slint for?

Mainly developer.

Open on GitHub → Explain another repo

This repo across BitVibe Labs

Scan in gitsafehub Deploy in gitdeployhub slint-ui on gitmyhub

Verify against the repo before relying on details.