StartWindow

Start window, often written as StartWindow or startwindow in code, is a term used in software development to describe the initial window or screen presented to the user when an application launches. It may be a splash screen, a login window, a welcome page, or the main window itself, depending on the startup flow chosen by the developer.

Its purposes include providing immediate contextual information, masking loading or initialization time, authenticating the user, or guiding the user through initial setup or onboarding. A start window is usually shown before the primary interface is ready, and transitions to the main application window once initialization completes or after user action.

Implementation and lifecycle: In desktop and mobile frameworks, the start window is typically created early in the application lifecycle and shown as the first visual element. It may be implemented as a dedicated window or as a page within a navigation stack. The window may be transient (splash) or persistent (login or onboarding). The transition to the main window or scene is often triggered by completion of startup tasks or a user event.

Design considerations: Start windows should be lightweight and responsive, avoid blocking the main thread, provide feedback on progress, and respect platform conventions. They should be accessible, localizable, and themable to match the app’s branding. A poorly implemented start window can delay usability or degrade perceived performance.

Examples and variants: Common forms include splash screens that display branding during load, login screens used at startup for authentication, onboarding screens for first-time users, and setup wizards that collect initial preferences.

See also: Splash screen, main window, onboarding, startup flow, application lifecycle.