JavaFX 1.0

Another alternative is now proposed by Sun to create rich Web applications, in addition to Flash and Silverlight. But what JavaFX offers more than these frameworks? Who will be most interested in this new solution?

Example provided on the JavaFX site with its source code: The MP3 player is a demonstration of interface made with JavaFX.

Who need for JavaFX?

Java wants to go beyond the desktop and move on browsers as well as on mobile devices and any multimedia device.
This poses as a goal, a RIA platform for use directly or indirectly by:
- Web developers.
- Authors of content.
- Graphic designers.
So webmasters are involved by this framework in all functions related to the web user interface.

Description of the framework

JavaFX wants to be the framework for Web applications and mobile applications. That puts it in competition with several already popular framework as well as Android, the development platform and mobile OS from Google.

The JavaFX site focuses on audio and video capabilities, rich text and graphics vector, animations and web services.

The current Java runtimes for PC and mobile reveal inconsistencies. JavaFX wants to remove them and offer a unique framework for all online applications. The applications for mobile devices can therefore run on PCs. The same applies to web applications, it will be possible to move an application running in a web page on the desktop by simply drag and drop.

To facilitate the development, a new programming language, JavaFX Script, is presented as allowing to replace in 25 lines what is written in 100 lines of Java.

How it works

The framework consists of several parts:

• The development environment.
  It includes a compiler, a runtime, and the NetBeans IDE with a dedicated plug-in.
  Plus a mobile emulator to develop applications, similar to what is offered by Android which uses also the Java language.
• The production suite.
  A set of tools and plug-ins for interfacing JavaFX with software such as Photoshop, and therefore use them more easily to make the design of web applications.
• JavaFX Desktop.
  As with Mozilla Prism and Google Gears, Web applications can be installed on the desktop. In this case, these are the applets embedded in pages that operate locally.

Prerequisite: The framework requires the installation of Java SE 6 update 10.

Conclusion

The examples given on the site are impressive. This new framework starts with strong arguments: the universality of applications, the free NetBeans development tool that significantly simplifies the design of software. JavaFX further complicates the choice of developers who now hesitate between three platforms at least!

Links

• JavaFX. The site dedicated to the framework offers examples that will work if you downloaded the latest version of Java.
• Download Java SE.
• Prism or Chrome. Moving Web apps to the desktop.

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