CODEWITHSUNDEEP
c#java.netwpfswing
RollRoll
RollRoll

Reputation: 8462

Desktop java application alternatives

I want to start developing desktop java applications and I would like to know what the java community uses.

I started with Swing but I found it very rudimentary.

I'm used to work with .net c# WPF with Visual Studio 2010 and I was looking for something with the same quality (or close) with java ( Swing + Window builder is not an option )

I would appreciate your inputs, even if you disagree with my Swing opinion

thanks all

Upvotes: 0

Views: 1095

Answers (5)

Andrew Thompson
Andrew Thompson

Reputation: 168825

I'm looking for a better looking and feel development..

Swing offers 4 PLAFs as standard. There are at least a dozen more 3rd party PLAFs, some with dozens of variants. Of that plethora of possibilities, end-users generally prefer the 'native' PLAF - which looks and feels mostly like 'every other native app.' on their machine.

You can see a small app. that changes PLAF. on the Nested Layout Example. Here is the Mac. native PLAF.

..why do you think it is not easy?

This was said in relation to a general comment that it is harder to build a GUI in Swing than (for example) Visual Studio.

The reason for that is that Swing is intended to work on multiple platforms, screen-resolutions/sizes, PLAFs (and other factors). As such, 'dragging and dropping' components into their final position is impractical, since that might change according to the factors listed above. Instead Java relies on the concept of layout managers, which calculate the size and position of components as they appear at run-time.

The layout managers use 'logical groupings' of components to achieve the desired general shape expected of a GUI. The image above is an example of how to combine layouts to achieve different effects in different parts of the GUI.

Although I don't use GUI builders for Java I do feel that they can increase productivity, it is just a matter of:

  1. Already knowing what Java Layouts are available, and how to use them.
  2. Using the standard layouts in combination in the GUI, to achieve the desired effect.

Upvotes: 3

tenorsax
tenorsax

Reputation: 21223

Check out JFormDesigner. JFormDesigner with Eclipse is a very powerful tool set. Also look for a good LaF. See The Alloy Look and Feel and JGoodies. You may find Look and feel in java useful.

Upvotes: 0

Ian McLaird
Ian McLaird

Reputation: 5585

If you don't mind an external dependency, you could also take a look at SWT. It's the framework that eclipse is built with, though it's not the easiest thing in the world to use.

It does provide a GUI-builder called SWT designer (if I remember correctly). It's not as good as what you're used to in Visual Studio though. That's a pretty high bar for quality. In the brief experience I have with it, there was a fair amount of boiler plate code, and the API isn't quite as intuitive as I'd like personally.

However, it is fairly widely used. Eclipse is built on it, and by extension, so are many professional tools built from that same base (Such as IBM's Rational tools, and Adobe's ColdFusion Builder). That should give you an idea of the power of the tool, if nothing else.

Upvotes: 1

Jeff Halverson
Jeff Halverson

Reputation: 253

How about Java under Mono,using IVKM and Gtk? You would be able to program in java, but your application would actually be .NET code... Not sure if that works for you.

If you want to move away from .NET alltogether, then perhaps you could use the java Gtk bindings: http://java-gnome.sourceforge.net/

Upvotes: 0

mprivat
mprivat

Reputation: 21902

The other option you want want to look into is SWT (The toolkit Eclipse uses). It renders using mostly native components so it feels more robust like a real desktop application.

Upvotes: 3

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