Much progress today!
I finally have acheived a decent level of proficiency with ClanLib, such to the point that I felt my learning framework was too convoluted and poorly written to salvage. I decided to start with a clean slate and build the GUI framework from the groud up the RIGHT way. And boy does it look sharp. Using my new system I was able to create the framework of the Guild "Identity" screen in a matter of minutes. Using my old method, just setting up the GUI shapes and coloring them would have taken an hour or more.
Starting over was a necessary step; sure, it's a little time lost here but in the end the gains from having a flexible dynamic script-driven GUI system will outweigh the few hours it tooks me to restructure my framework. I would have like to post some screenshots for slo and navic to drool over but the FTP doesn't appear to be working tonight.
Things to reflect upon:
In my best Ferris Bueller voice...
* STD maps are so choice. If you have the means, I highly recommend implementing them.
* Also, shame on me for not realizing that the set_options signal is a blessing and a half. It has made my job at least two to three times easier. Instead of needing to dereference and implicit cast until my fingers fall off, I can now plop a little attribute into the GUI script and get instant results -- without a compile! Glory be to the lords of the fair land of ClanLib. May they prosper as is their custom.