Choosing between Python with PyQt (and Pillow), C++, or C# for your application depends on several factors, including performance requirements, development time, ease of use, and platform compatibility.
- Performance: C++ offers high performance and is well-suited for applications that require intensive image processing, especially if you plan to implement complex algorithms from scratch or with libraries like OpenCV.
- Cross-Platform: With frameworks like Qt (the C++ counterpart to PyQt), you can develop cross-platform applications. Qt also provides extensive support for GUI development and is more powerful when used with C++.
- Development Complexity: The development time might be longer compared to Python, as C++ is generally more complex due to manual memory management and a more verbose syntax.
- Rapid Development: C# is known for its ease of development, especially for Windows applications, thanks to .NET Framework and .NET Core for cross-platform applications. It offers rich libraries like WPF (Windows Presentation Foundation) for GUI and can use libraries like EmguCV for image processing.
- Performance: C# provides good performance, which is usually sufficient for many applications, including image processing tasks.
- Platform Preference: If your primary target is Windows, C# is a strong candidate. Although .NET Core has extended support for macOS and Linux, development and deployment might be more straightforward on Windows.
- Development Speed: Python allows for rapid development, thanks to its simple syntax and the vast availability of libraries for almost any task, including PyQt for GUI and Pillow for image processing.
- Cross-Platform: Python with PyQt is inherently cross-platform, meaning you can develop and deploy your application on Windows, macOS, and Linux with few modifications.
- Performance: While Python may not match the performance of C++ or C# for intensive image processing tasks, it's often more than adequate for applications with moderate processing needs. Plus, for heavy lifting, you can integrate Python with C/C++ extensions or use libraries optimized for performance.
- If performance and fine-grained control over image processing are critical, and you're comfortable with the complexity, C++ with Qt might be the way to go.
- If you're targeting Windows primarily, prefer rapid development, and need a balance between performance and ease of use, C# is a strong choice.
- For cross-platform applications, ease of development, and access to a wide range of libraries for both GUI and image processing, Python with PyQt and Pillow is highly recommended.
Given the requirements you've outlined, Python with PyQt and Pillow should serve well, especially if you're looking for a balance between ease of development and functionality. Python allows for quick prototyping and adjustments, which seems beneficial for your application where GUI and image manipulation features need to be iteratively refined. However, if your application's performance under Python doesn't meet your expectations, or if you're already comfortable with C++ or C#, exploring those options could be beneficial, particularly for their performance advantages in image processing tasks.
