#embeddedgui

[siliconsignalsblog]

Top GUI Frameworks and Display Protocols for Embedded Product Development in 2025  

In today’s embedded systems, GUIs aren’t just screens — they’re the core of user interaction. Whether you're developing a wearable, an industrial controller, or a smart appliance, creating a seamless graphical user interface (GUI) is critical. This blog explores how to select the right type of LCD touch display, communication protocols, and GUI design tools that align with your product needs. 

As a leading board bring-up company, Silicon Signals provides end-to-end board bringup services, with specialization in GUI porting and development using platforms like Qt, LVGL, EmWin, and GTK. Let’s dive into the key components to consider. 

Types of LCD Touch Displays 

Capacitive Touch Screens 

Projected capacitive displays are widely used in consumer electronics like smartphones and tablets. They offer a smooth, responsive multi-touch experience, supporting gestures like pinch-to-zoom and swipe. These displays detect the conductivity of your fingers and perform exceptionally well in dry, clean environments. 

Key Benefits: 

Multi-touch support 

High durability and sleek design 

Fast response time 

Limitations: 

Not ideal for environments where gloves or non-conductive materials are used 

Resistive Touch Screens 

Resistive displays consist of two layers (plastic and glass) separated by a gap. When pressure is applied, the layers touch, registering the input. 

Ideal for:  Industrial and rugged environments where gloves or styluses are often used. 

Advantages: 

Can be operated with any object 

Lower cost 

Reliable in harsh environments 

Drawback: 

Requires more pressure, offers less responsiveness than capacitive touch 

Display Communication Protocols 

Choosing the right communication interface between your display and the processor is crucial for performance and system optimization. 

SPI (Serial Peripheral Interface) 

SPI is a widely-used protocol in embedded systems, especially when working with lower-resolution screens. It’s simple to implement and works well with basic touch GUIs. 

Best suited for: Small displays (~480x360 resolution) 

Benefits: Low resource requirements, easy integration on MCUs 

Limitation: Not ideal for high-speed or high-res displays 

DSI (Digital Serial Interface) 

Developed by the MIPI Alliance, DSI is ideal for high-resolution and high-refresh-rate displays with fewer I/O pins required. 

Best suited for: Mid-to-high-end embedded systems 

Benefits: Power-efficient, scalable, and compatible with modern display controllers 

Limitation: Licensing fees due to proprietary technology 

HDMI 

Used primarily in embedded Linux or high-performance products, HDMI offers the highest quality in terms of audio-visual integration. 

Best suited for: Advanced GUIs in medical, aerospace, or industrial systems 

Benefits: Combines audio and video, HDCP for secure content, supports large resolutions 

Limitation: Requires a more powerful processor and consumes more power 

GUI Development Tools & Libraries 

Once you've selected your hardware, it’s time to choose a software tool that helps you design and port the GUI effectively. As a board bringup service provider, we at Silicon Signals have deep expertise in GUI porting using Qt, LVGL, EmWin, GTK, and Crank Storyboard. 

1. Qt Framework 

Qt is a professional-grade development platform used extensively in automotive, medical, and industrial applications. 

Language: C++ and QML 

Features: Cross-platform, hardware acceleration, built-in protocol support (HTTP, FTP, etc.) 

Ideal for: Performance-sensitive, scalable GUIs 

Note: Commercial license required for product deployment 

We offer advanced Qt porting services for embedded Linux, Yocto-based boards, and RTOS platforms. 

2. Crank Storyboard 

Storyboard simplifies GUI development with drag-and-drop features, Photoshop imports, and support for animations and 3D elements. 

Benefits: Designer-friendly, OS and platform agnostic, embedded engine optimization 

Best for: Teams with both design and embedded development backgrounds 

Limitation: Requires a license for commercial products 

3. LVGL (Light and Versatile Graphics Library) 

LVGL is ideal for resource-constrained microcontrollers, with footprint requirements as low as 64kB flash and 8kB RAM. 

Languages: C and MicroPython 

Platforms: STM32, ESP32, Raspberry Pi, PIC, etc. 

GUI Builder: Beta version available 

Strengths: Free, open-source, portable 

Limitations: Limited for complex UIs or animations 

Our team excels in integrating LVGL on custom MCUs and porting it for FreeRTOS and bare-metal systems. 

4. EmWin by SEGGER 

EmWin is a highly efficient, commercial-grade GUI library optimized for MCUs. 

Developed by: SEGGER Microcontroller 

Best for: Medical and industrial applications where reliability is non-negotiable 

Strength: Real-time performance, minimal resource usage, certified for safety-critical applications 

Limitation: Licensing and complexity 

We provide EmWin integration services for NXP, STM32, and Renesas-based boards. 

5. GTK (GIMP Toolkit) 

GTK is a popular GUI library often used in Linux systems and is open-source. 

Language: C (bindings available for Python, C++, etc.) 

Best for: Embedded Linux systems where scalability and flexibility matter 

Drawback: Not suitable for MCUs with limited RAM and Flash 

Our engineers can port GTK-based UIs on embedded Linux devices, optimizing for performance and footprint. 

Why Silicon Signals? 

As a leading board bring-up company, Silicon Signals provides a one-stop solution for embedded product development. From hardware validation and board bringup services to GUI design and porting on popular frameworks like Qt, LVGL, TouchGFX, GTK, and EmWin — we ensure your product is market-ready with a seamless user experience. 

Whether you need to develop a medical device UI, a rugged industrial HMI, or a sleek consumer interface, our engineers can help you choose the right display, protocol, and GUI framework. 

Ready to design a powerful GUI for your embedded product? Reach out to our engineering team at info@siliconsignals.io for a free consultation.