Introduction to JavaFx

Brief :

JavaFx8 is a "client UI library for java" promoted by the Oracle Corporation replacing Swing. Currently Swing is popular in developers, but the way JavaFx8 supports porting of Swing applications to JavaFx8 without breaking existing functionalities and enables to use new features of JavaFx as well, so its time to say good bye to Swing. Oracle in its MAJOR release of java version (JAVA8) included javaFx as an integral part of core distribution of java.

JavaFx has been around since 2008, but it got fame when Oracle adopted Sun MicroSystems and started developing JavaFx in new style as a side project. JavaFx8 is emerging rapidly as JAVA is available for all platforms like Windows, Mac OSX, Linux. Everyone who wants to develop all-in-one application for desktop, web and mobile devices can choose JavaFx8 as their first choice. You will surely make up your mind to use JavaFx8 as your GUI designing tool after reading this blog.


Need :

JavaFx8 is a software platform for developing rich internet & desktop applications that are available for use on a single click escaping the hectic installation process. It also enables you to create native bundles for installation.

Self contained application packaging makes it platform independent as application package itself optionally includes the java runtime environment (JRE) and all resources needed within a bundle. So we do not need to worry about whether java environment is available on client machine or not.

You can design hassle free UI without writing a single line of code with the help of Scene Builder. Scene Builder provides drag n drop feature for creating layouts. It creates FXML code in background. FXML is html-like language which keeps user interface separate from business logic.

Developers like me would love to work with JavaFx8 as they can design and customize UI design without writing a business logic. Support of CSS helps to provide elegant look and feel for application.

JavaFx8 is not only good in terms of creating fluid user interfaces but also developers can write pre-business logic with ease and send it to server with the help of API calls. Oracle provides ports for converting JavaFx applications to mobile applications for android and IOS but not yet supported for Windows8 mobiles. At the same time application can be distributed over the web from web browsers without dealing with what kind of browser it is.


JavaFx8 supports 3D effects and animations for creating rich user interface. With JavaFx8 you can enjoy cool features in java8 like Stream API and lambda expressions which drastically improves performance and readability of your application.



How it works :


Main components behind the scene for running JavaFx applications are :

   1) Prism - high performance graphics engine for supporting 2D and 3D graphics.

   2) Glass - It is light weight windowing system called as Glass Windowing Toolkit (GWT). Its main function is to deal with windows, timers and surfaces. It connects javaFx with operating system.

   3) Media engine - It provides cross platform support for media types like audio and video of all formats. Media functionality is further broken down in three separate components:

                                i) "Media" object represent media file

                               ii) "MediaPlayer" responsible for playing media file.

                              iii) "MediaView" displays media in graphical format.

   4) Web engine - It is web browser engine that enables rendering HTML, CSS styling, SVG, DOM, event handling and Javascript support.

                                

How javaFx applications runs :

  •     Application is main class of JavaFx applications. It is must for each javaFx program to extend Application Class.
  •     JavaFx application execution starts from start() method in Application class.
  •     JavaFx application consist of Stage, Scene, Panes and Controls.
  •     Stage is the window for application and Scene the actual visual content of the application.
  •     Panes are different types of layouts for holding controls like TextField, Button etc.

     

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