Through the last seven chapters, we've explored how to build a fairly simple graphical user interface using different toolkits and technologies. In each example, we saw benefits to the widget and API design but also challenges that are often faced when picking a toolkit. In this chapter, we're shifting focus to the planning and implementation of a more complex GUI—the sorts of challenges that will be encountered irrespective of the toolkit and technology selected.

In this chapter, we'll cover the following topics:

Planning the workflow of a more complex GUI
Window management and notifications for a clean user experience
Operating system-specific details and how to adapt a cross-platform application

At the end of this chapter, you'll have examined the bigger picture questions of application flow and navigation in a more complex graphical application. You'll have thought about how your GUI will fit within the current platform's flow and how to notify or engage the user as appropriate. So, let's get started by looking at the navigation of a complex application.