# To use Ruby / Tk (on Win XP) needs to install ActiveState?

**URL:** <https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/to-use-ruby-tk-on-win-xp-needs-to-install-activestate/117154>\
**Category:** Ruby\
**Created:** [October 14, 2007, 12:17am UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/to-use-ruby-tk-on-win-xp-needs-to-install-activestate/117154 "2007-10-14T00:17:50Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![winterheat](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/w/7993a0/32.png) [@winterheat](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/winterheat)\
**Post date:** [October 14, 2007, 12:17am UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/to-use-ruby-tk-on-win-xp-needs-to-install-activestate/117154/1 "2007-10-14T00:17:50Z")

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it seems the usual way to use Ruby / Tk on Win XP is to install  
ActiveState’s ActiveTcl?

it is quite a huge installation.

is the other way is to download the Tk source code and compile it  
yourself using Visual Studio or cygwin?

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![winterheat](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/w/7993a0/32.png) [@winterheat](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/winterheat)\
**Post date:** [October 14, 2007, 4:12am UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/to-use-ruby-tk-on-win-xp-needs-to-install-activestate/117154/2 "2007-10-14T04:12:06Z")

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I don’t think there is a practical alternative unfortunately. It is  
quite large, but well worth it. I have tried several of the available  
GUI toolkits for Ruby, and I always return to Tk. Well worth the large  
install.