How does XUL compare with Microsoft Foundation Classes (MFC) or Windows Forms? Check out the three "Hello World" contestants and see yourself.

MFC Contestant

// HelloMFC.H

class CSimpleApp : public CWinApp
{
  public:
    virtual BOOL InitInstance()
    {
      m_pMainWnd = new CSimpleFrame;  
      m_pMainWnd->ShowWindow( m_nCmdShow );
      m_pMainWnd->UpdateWindow();
 
      return TRUE; 
   }
};

class CSimpleFrame:public CFrameWnd
{
  public:
    CSimpleFrame()
    {
      Create( NULL, "Hello MFC" );
    }
  protected:
    DECLARE_MESSAGE_MAP();
    afx_msg void OnPaint();
};
--------------------------------------------
// HelloMFC.CPP

CSimpleApp helloApp;

BEGIN_MESSAGE_MAP( CSimpleFrame, CFrameWnd )
  ON_WM_PAINT()
END_MESSAGE_MAP() 

void CSimpleFrame::OnPaint()
{ 
  CPaintDC dc( this );
  dc.TextOut( 200, 200, "Hello World from MFC" );
}              

Windows Forms Contestant

using System;
using System.Windows.Forms;

public class SimpleForm : Form 
{
  private Label label1;

  public SimpleForm() 
  { 
    label1 = new Label();
    label1.Text = "Hello World from Windows Forms";
    Controls.Add( label1 );
  }
  [STAThread()]
  static void Main() {
    Application.Run(new SimpleForm());	
  }  
}

XUL Contestant

<window>
  <label value="Hello World from XUL" />
</window>

And the winner is... Do I need to comment?