I created some interface mockups in Figma and now I want to build a desktop program with C++ or Python. Can I somehow export these designs directly into my code? Or do I need to manually rebuild everything using frameworks like Qt or GTK? I’m hoping there’s a way to avoid recreating all the visual elements from scratch since the designs are already complete in Figma.
the manual rebuild isn’t bad if u tackle it piece by piece. I start with Qt’s basic layout, then layer in the styling after. pro tip: Figma’s dev mode gives you exact spacing and font weights - no more guessing. u might wanna try Electron since ur designs r ready. it’s heavier but way quicker to get running.
Yeah, you’ll have to rebuild everything manually, but it’s not as bad as it sounds once you get a system down. I screenshot parts of my Figma designs and keep them open while I’m coding in Qt Designer. Figma’s inspect panel is a lifesaver - it gives you exact measurements, font sizes, and hex codes that you can drop straight into Qt stylesheets or GTK themes. Here’s what works for me: create custom Qt stylesheets with your Figma colors and fonts first, then build your components using those styles. Keeps everything consistent without constantly jumping between Figma and your IDE. If you want something simpler, Python with tkinter handles basic interfaces pretty well and skips the Qt learning curve entirely.
Nope, there’s no direct export from Figma to Qt or GTK that’ll give you working code. Found this out the hard way when I switched from web to desktop development. You can export assets like icons, images, and color codes from Figma, then use those as references while manually building your interface. Some devs try Figma to Code plugins, but these just spit out web code that’s useless for desktop apps. Best approach I’ve found: export CSS values for spacing, colors, and dimensions, then translate those into your Qt or GTK layouts. It’s tedious but you’ll get way better control than trying to automate it.
Been there! Converting Figma to Qt taught me more about UI frameworks than any tutorial ever did. Treat Figma like a detailed spec, not source code. Start with a basic Qt window and add complexity bit by bit while checking your designs. Here’s what saved me hours: create a style guide doc mapping your Figma design tokens to Qt stylesheet properties before you write any code. Yeah, the upfront work feels slow, but you’ll end up with cleaner, more maintainable code instead of wrestling with automated conversion tools that barely exist for desktop frameworks anyway.