Built for beauty and speed.
Cross-platform MIT-licensed Desktop GUI framework for C, C++, Python and Rust, using the Mozilla WebRender rendering engine
v0.2.0
2026-06-25
Hello, World.
Goodbye, JavaScript.
No Chromium. No V8. No 200MB runtime. Just a 15MB DLL and GPU-accelerated rendering via WebRender. Your app state lives in YOUR code - Azul just renders it. Unlike React, you control exactly when the UI refreshes. Write once in Rust, C, C++ or Python. Style with real CSS. Ship a single binary that starts instantly.
# python hello-world.py
from azul import *
# Plain Python class - "single source of truth" for app state
class DataModel:
def __init__(self, counter):
self.counter = counter
# Layout callback: f(DataModel, LayoutCallbackInfo) -> Dom. Runs once on
# startup and again after every callback that returns Update.RefreshDom.
def layout(data, info):
# Rendered counter label: a text node wrapped in a styled div.
# .with_css(...) consumes self and returns a new Dom, so builder
# calls chain inline.
label = (Dom.create_div()
.with_child(Dom.create_text(str(data.counter)))
.with_css("font-size: 32px;"))
# Button widget with a click handler. with_on_click(data, callback)
# registers the handler; .dom() turns the widget into a Dom node.
button = (Button.create("Increase counter")
.with_on_click(data, on_click)
.dom()
.with_css("flex-grow: 1;"))
# Dom.create_body builds the root, .with_child(...) appends children.
# Builder methods return a new Dom - keep chaining or re-assign.
return (Dom.create_body()
.with_child(label)
.with_child(button))
# Click callback: f(DataModel, CallbackInfo) -> Update. 'data' is the same
# Python instance passed to App.create - mutate it in place. Update
# variants are plain class attributes: return Update.RefreshDom.
def on_click(data, info):
data.counter += 1
return Update.RefreshDom
if __name__ == "__main__":
model = DataModel(5)
window = WindowCreateOptions.create(layout)
app = App.create(model, AppConfig.create())
app.run(window)
Massive Widget
library
Buttons, inputs, dropdowns, tabs, color pickers, progress bars - all GPU-rendered and fully styleable via CSS. No DOM/JS bridge overhead. Callbacks are direct function pointers to your native code. Compose widgets freely - no prop drilling, no state lifting. Your architecture, your rules.
# python widgets.py
from azul import *
class WidgetShowcase:
def __init__(self):
self.enable_padding = True
self.active_tab = 0
self.progress_value = 25.0
self.checkbox_checked = False
self.text_input = ""
CLICK = EventFilter.Hover(HoverEventFilter.MouseUp)
def layout(data, info):
title = (Dom.create_text("Widget Showcase")
.with_css("font-size:24px;margin-bottom:20px;"))
button = (Dom.create_div()
.with_css("margin-bottom:10px;padding:10px;background:#4CAF50;"
"color:white;cursor:pointer;")
.with_child(Dom.create_text("Click me!"))
.with_callback(CLICK, data, on_button_click))
checkbox = (CheckBox.create(data.checkbox_checked)
.dom()
.with_css("margin-bottom:10px;"))
progress = (ProgressBar.create(data.progress_value)
.dom()
.with_css("margin-bottom:10px;"))
text_input = (TextInput.create()
.with_placeholder("Enter text here...")
.dom()
.with_css("margin-bottom:10px;"))
color_input = (ColorInput.create(ColorU(100, 150, 200, 255))
.dom()
.with_css("margin-bottom:10px;"))
number_input = (NumberInput.create(42.0)
.dom()
.with_css("margin-bottom:10px;"))
body = (Dom.create_body()
.with_css("padding:20px;font-family:sans-serif;")
.with_child(title)
.with_child(button)
.with_child(checkbox)
.with_child(progress)
.with_child(text_input)
.with_child(color_input)
.with_child(number_input))
return body
def on_button_click(data, info):
data.progress_value += 10.0
if data.progress_value > 100.0:
data.progress_value = 0.0
return Update.RefreshDom
model = WidgetShowcase()
window = WindowCreateOptions.create(layout)
app = App.create(model, AppConfig.create())
app.run(window)
OpenGL
Integration
Embed raw OpenGL directly in your UI - no WebGL abstraction, no canvas hacks. Render 3D scenes, CAD models, or data visualizations right next to native widgets. Perfect for scientific apps, GIS or CAD.
# python opengl.py
from azul import *
class OpenGlState:
def __init__(self):
self.rotation_deg = 0.0
self.texture_uploaded = False
def layout(data, info):
title = (Dom.create_text("OpenGL Integration Demo")
.with_css("color:white;font-size:24px;margin-bottom:20px;"))
placeholder = (Dom.create_text(
"OpenGL texture would render here (timer-driven animation pending)")
.with_css("flex-grow:1;min-height:300px;border-radius:10px;"
"background:#222;color:white;display:flex;"
"align-items:center;justify-content:center;"
"box-shadow:0px 0px 20px rgba(0,0,0,0.5);"))
body = (Dom.create_body()
.with_css("background:linear-gradient(#1a1a2e, #16213e);padding:20px;")
.with_child(title)
.with_child(placeholder))
return body
state = OpenGlState()
window = WindowCreateOptions.create(layout)
app = App.create(state, AppConfig.create())
app.run(window)
Infinite
Scrolling
Display 10 million rows at 60 FPS. VirtualViewCallbacks render only what's visible on screen. Lazy-load images, SVGs, and complex content as users scroll - zero upfront memory cost. Perfect for IDE file trees, database viewers, and infinite feeds, ...
# python infinity.py
from azul import *
class InfinityState:
def __init__(self):
self.file_paths = [f"image_{i:04d}.png" for i in range(1000)]
self.visible_start = 0
self.visible_count = 50
def layout(data, info):
title = (Dom.create_text(
f"Infinite Gallery - {len(data.file_paths)} images")
.with_css("font-size:20px;margin-bottom:10px;"))
end = min(data.visible_start + data.visible_count, len(data.file_paths))
container = Dom.create_div().with_css(
"display:flex;flex-wrap:wrap;gap:10px;padding:10px;"
"flex-grow:1;overflow:scroll;background:#f5f5f5;")
for i in range(data.visible_start, end):
item = (Dom.create_div()
.with_css("width:150px;height:150px;background:white;"
"border:1px solid #ddd;display:flex;"
"align-items:center;justify-content:center;")
.with_child(Dom.create_text(data.file_paths[i])))
container = container.with_child(item)
body = (Dom.create_body()
.with_css("padding:20px;font-family:sans-serif;")
.with_child(title)
.with_child(container))
return body
state = InfinityState()
window = WindowCreateOptions.create(layout)
app = App.create(state, AppConfig.create())
app.run(window)
True Native
Multithreading
Real OS threads, not JavaScript promises. Background tasks with automatic UI updates. Spawn database queries, file operations, or network requests without freezing your app. Timers, thread pools, and progress callbacks built-in.
# python async.py
from azul import *
class AsyncState:
def __init__(self):
# not_connected, connecting, loading, loaded, error
self.stage = "not_connected"
self.database_url = "postgres://localhost:5432/mydb"
self.loaded_data = []
self.progress = 0.0
self.error_message = ""
CLICK = EventFilter.Hover(HoverEventFilter.MouseUp)
def connect_button(data):
return (Dom.create_div()
.with_css("padding:10px 20px;background:#4CAF50;color:white;cursor:pointer;")
.with_child(Dom.create_text("Connect"))
.with_callback(CLICK, data, start_connection))
def reset_button(data):
return (Dom.create_div()
.with_css("padding:10px;background:#2196F3;color:white;cursor:pointer;")
.with_child(Dom.create_text("Reset"))
.with_callback(CLICK, data, reset_connection))
def progress_view(data):
return (Dom.create_div()
.with_child(Dom.create_text(f"Progress: {int(data.progress)}%"))
.with_child(ProgressBar.create(data.progress).dom()))
def loaded_view(data):
return (Dom.create_div()
.with_child(Dom.create_text(f"Loaded {len(data.loaded_data)} records"))
.with_child(reset_button(data)))
def layout(data, info):
title = (Dom.create_text("Async Database Connection")
.with_css("font-size:24px;margin-bottom:20px;"))
if data.stage == "not_connected":
content = connect_button(data)
elif data.stage in ("connecting", "loading"):
content = progress_view(data)
elif data.stage == "loaded":
content = loaded_view(data)
else:
content = Dom.create_text(data.error_message)
body = (Dom.create_body()
.with_css("padding:30px;font-family:sans-serif;")
.with_child(title)
.with_child(content))
return body
def start_connection(data, info):
data.stage = "connecting"
data.progress = 0.0
return Update.RefreshDom
def reset_connection(data, info):
data.stage = "not_connected"
data.progress = 0.0
data.loaded_data = []
data.error_message = ""
return Update.RefreshDom
state = AsyncState()
window = WindowCreateOptions.create(layout)
app = App.create(state, AppConfig.create())
app.run(window)
Built-in CSS
Styling Engine
Block, inline, flexbox, grid - the same layout power as modern browsers, but without any bloat. Load XHTML from files or strings. Hot-reload your UI without recompiling. Perfect for designers: tweak styles in CSS, see changes instantly.
# python xhtml.py
from azul import *
def layout(data, info):
src = open("assets/spreadsheet.xhtml").read()
parsed = Xml.from_str(src)
if parsed.is_ok():
return Dom.create_from_parsed_xml(parsed.unwrap())
return Dom.create_body()
app = App.create(None, AppConfig.create())
window = WindowCreateOptions.create(layout)
app.run(window)
Flexbox and
Grid Layouts
Modern CSS Grid and Flexbox layouts, powered by the Taffy engine. Build responsive, complex interfaces without learning yet another layout system. Just the same CSS you know from the web - without the browser baggage.
# python calc.py
from azul import *
class Calculator:
def __init__(self):
self.display = "0"
self.current_value = 0.0
self.pending_operation = None
self.pending_value = None
self.clear_on_next_input = False
def input_digit(self, digit):
if self.clear_on_next_input:
self.display = ""
self.clear_on_next_input = False
if self.display == "0" and digit != ".":
self.display = digit
elif digit == "." and "." in self.display:
pass
else:
self.display += digit
self.current_value = float(self.display) if self.display else 0.0
def set_operation(self, op):
self.calculate()
self.pending_operation = op
self.pending_value = self.current_value
self.clear_on_next_input = True
def calculate(self):
if self.pending_operation is None or self.pending_value is None:
return
if self.pending_operation == "add":
result = self.pending_value + self.current_value
elif self.pending_operation == "subtract":
result = self.pending_value - self.current_value
elif self.pending_operation == "multiply":
result = self.pending_value * self.current_value
elif self.pending_operation == "divide":
if self.current_value != 0:
result = self.pending_value / self.current_value
else:
self.display = "Error"
self.pending_operation = None
self.pending_value = None
return
else:
return
self.current_value = result
if result == int(result) and abs(result) < 1e15:
self.display = str(int(result))
else:
self.display = str(result)
self.pending_operation = None
self.pending_value = None
self.clear_on_next_input = True
def clear(self):
self.display = "0"
self.current_value = 0.0
self.pending_operation = None
self.pending_value = None
self.clear_on_next_input = False
def invert_sign(self):
self.current_value = -self.current_value
self.display = (str(int(self.current_value))
if self.current_value == int(self.current_value)
else str(self.current_value))
def percent(self):
self.current_value /= 100.0
self.display = str(self.current_value)
CALC_STYLE = ("height:100%;display:flex;flex-direction:column;"
"font-family:sans-serif;")
DISPLAY_STYLE = ("background-color:#2d2d2d;color:white;font-size:48px;"
"text-align:right;padding:20px;display:flex;align-items:center;"
"justify-content:flex-end;min-height:80px;")
BUTTONS_STYLE = ("flex-grow:1;display:grid;"
"grid-template-columns:1fr 1fr 1fr 1fr;"
"grid-template-rows:1fr 1fr 1fr 1fr 1fr;gap:1px;"
"background-color:#666666;")
BTN_STYLE = ("background-color:#d1d1d6;color:#1d1d1f;font-size:24px;"
"display:flex;align-items:center;justify-content:center;")
OP_STYLE = ("background-color:#ff9f0a;color:white;font-size:24px;"
"display:flex;align-items:center;justify-content:center;")
ZERO_STYLE = ("background-color:#d1d1d6;color:#1d1d1f;font-size:24px;"
"display:flex;align-items:center;justify-content:flex-start;"
"padding-left:28px;grid-column:span 2;")
def make_callback(calc, event_type, event_data):
def cb(data, info):
if event_type == "digit":
calc.input_digit(event_data)
elif event_type == "operation":
calc.set_operation(event_data)
elif event_type == "equals":
calc.calculate()
elif event_type == "clear":
calc.clear()
elif event_type == "invert":
calc.invert_sign()
elif event_type == "percent":
calc.percent()
return Update.RefreshDom
return cb
def button(calc, label, event_type, event_data, style):
return (Dom.create_div()
.with_css(style)
.with_child(Dom.create_text(label))
.with_callback(
EventFilter.Hover(HoverEventFilter.MouseUp),
calc,
make_callback(calc, event_type, event_data)))
def layout(data, info):
display = (Dom.create_div()
.with_css(DISPLAY_STYLE)
.with_child(Dom.create_text(data.display)))
rows = [
("C", "clear", None, BTN_STYLE),
("+/-", "invert", None, BTN_STYLE),
("%", "percent", None, BTN_STYLE),
("÷", "operation", "divide", OP_STYLE),
("7", "digit", "7", BTN_STYLE),
("8", "digit", "8", BTN_STYLE),
("9", "digit", "9", BTN_STYLE),
("×", "operation", "multiply", OP_STYLE),
("4", "digit", "4", BTN_STYLE),
("5", "digit", "5", BTN_STYLE),
("6", "digit", "6", BTN_STYLE),
("-", "operation", "subtract", OP_STYLE),
("1", "digit", "1", BTN_STYLE),
("2", "digit", "2", BTN_STYLE),
("3", "digit", "3", BTN_STYLE),
("+", "operation", "add", OP_STYLE),
("0", "digit", "0", ZERO_STYLE),
(".", "digit", ".", BTN_STYLE),
("=", "equals", None, OP_STYLE),
]
buttons = Dom.create_div().with_css(BUTTONS_STYLE)
for label, evt, evt_data, style in rows:
buttons = buttons.with_child(button(data, label, evt, evt_data, style))
body = (Dom.create_div()
.with_css(CALC_STYLE)
.with_child(display)
.with_child(buttons))
return body
def main():
calc = Calculator()
app = App.create(calc, AppConfig.create())
window = WindowCreateOptions.create(layout)
app.run(window)
if __name__ == "__main__":
main()