[aedGUI] project interest

[potatoes <bwi...@co...>]

    aed is a partially complete, full function Gui toolkit that renders 
under SDL.  to me the most practical purpose for aed is as an easy 
drop-in Gui system for games, or other openGL apps.  it in it's current 
form it is simply just another widget set, but because it renders in SDL 
converting it to render to a openGL window wouldn't be very hard.  a 
themeable Gui library capable of providing the developer with already 
complete menu, hud, and console systems right from the start of 
development would be a very useful tool.
    our current openGL output simply gives a SDL_texture with the window 
to be used as a texture in the developers own openGL setup, which is 
slow and limits lots of openGL functionality.  though aed uses SDL's 2d 
drawing api, which means low level rendering functions would need some 
rewriting to switch.  but SDL's library is similar to many basic openGL 
commands, so it is very plausible.
    we could provide an easy to use and simple to implement framework 
for game makers.  not something so encompassing as a game engine 
framework but something that will provide:

    * a way to open an openGL window.
    * forms capable of both simple and complex starting menus.
    * widgets to make a complete hud/in-game Gui.
    * forms loadable from XML
    * transparent client/server communication (easy with XML based forms)

    the differences between such a toolkit and aed's current status 
really aren't very big.  most game Gui's aren't very complex.  basic 
theming abilities and transparency are it's only aesthetic necessities, 
and a few widgets to help graphics programmers with commonly needed 
things(console, 3d functionality, etc...).  unthemed aed would retain 
it's current non-flashy toolkit look, making it still very capable of 
normal program UIs.
    how does everyone feel about this?  does this seem useful, 
practical, interesting?  i'd be glad to hear from both people interested 
in it and people just reading.

potatoes