While fans of [wxWindows], [Qt], [GTK]+, and other [GUI] toolkits
often deride [Tk] as "old-fashioned", a good case can be made that
it's merely mature.  Well into its second decade of successful
application, Tk remains the most reliable cross-platform GUI toolkit,
besting even [Java]'s AWT in its effective coverage.  Beginners also
find it easier to start with Tk than any other system, with the
possible exceptions of rather hermetic and platform-specific
technologies, as well as members of the *Card family.





Why has Tk aged so gracefully?  It enjoys several specific technical
advantages, discussed below.  At a higher level, it seems increasingly
likely that Tk is better off for being object-based, but ''not''
[object-oriented].  [[Explain.  [Todd Coram] makes the point that
OO limits tagging to clumsy static kinds based on RTTI and multiple
subclassing--yuck.  Maybe we can get Todd to write more.]]





   * [text] and [canvas] are powerhouses.
   * [tags] are incredibly effective.  The real question here is why no other toolkit has adopted tags to such good effect.


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[Category GUI]