soui

Soui, often written as SOUI or soui, refers to more than one thing but is most widely associated with a cross‑platform graphical user interface framework for C++. The SOUI framework provides an XML‑based UI description language, a library of widgets, and a skinning system that enables developers to customize the appearance of applications without changing their code. It is designed to produce native-looking interfaces on supported platforms, with an emphasis on a lightweight footprint and responsive rendering.

In terms of architecture, SOUI centers on a runtime that parses XML UI definitions and constructs the corresponding widget tree at run time. A rendering backend abstracts platform-specific drawing operations to deliver a consistent look across environments. The framework exposes interfaces for events, layout, and resource management, and supports theming through skinnable control templates. Developers typically implement application logic in C++ while declaring layouts and presentations in XML, enabling a separation between design and behavior.

Development of the project began in the open‑source community in the 2010s, driven by volunteers seeking a portable alternative to larger GUI toolkits. The project is distributed under an open‑source license and maintained through community contributions on code hosting platforms, supported by documentation and example projects to assist newcomers.

Other uses of the term soui exist outside this framework, including as a transliteration of a Chinese given name and in various context-specific identifiers. For clarity, it is common to specify SOUI the UI framework when discussing software development, and to consult relevant disambiguation resources when referring to other meanings of the term.