Articles by James L. Weaver

JFX and the Way Forward After JavaOne 2008

Mon, 12 May 2008 10:30:00 EDT

There were several JavaFX-related announcements and demos at JavaOne, not the least of which is the preview release of the JavaFX SDK due in June 2008. As the interpreted version of JavaFX was the prototype for the compiled version, the javafx.ui classes are the prototype for the javafx.gui classes that were shown at JavaOne and will be released in the SDK. These javafx.gui libraries will have a streamlined, faster performing API, as well as support for multimedia. In June, JavaFX will have turned a significant corner, out of the prototype stage and becoming more mature.

A Compiled JavaFX Script Example: Spinning Wheel Got to Go 'Round

Thu, 21 Feb 2008 06:30:00 EST

Kevin Nilson, the leader of the Silicon Valley Web Developer JUG, relayed to me the idea of creating an application in JavaFX Script that consists of a wheel that has the names of JUG attendees on it. The wheel would revolve and land on a name, who would then receive a prize. Today's post is a first cut at this, which also demonstrates several compiled JavaFX Script features.

Compiled JavaFX Script Applet - Happy Holidays!

Tue, 25 Dec 2007 10:30:00 EST

To wish you Happy Holidays (and if you'll permit me, a very merry Christmas) I wrote this Compiled JavaFX Script Applet (that executes in a browser). For fast deployment I used the latest version of Java SE 6 Update 10 (formerly known as Java SE Update N, formerly known as Consumer JRE, formerly known as Prince.

JavaFX Update: The Elephant Is Through the Door!

Fri, 07 Dec 2007 05:30:00 EST

In the last two days lots of compiled JavaFX Script features became functional, including many of the UI components, and much of the graphics functionality. I would like to publicly extend my thanks and appreciation to the talented and diligent JavaFX Script Compiler team for achieving what I consider to be a tipping point in the project.

Playing with UI Features in Compiled JavaFX Script

Tue, 04 Dec 2007 03:45:00 EST

As I've mentioned before, compiled JavaFX Script is currently under development, and one of the last pieces of the puzzle is the UI features. Currently there are a few UI features that are operational in the compiled version, for example Frame, BorderPanel and Button. Fortunately, the user interface API (widgets and 2D graphics) is almost identical to interpreted JavaFX Script, as is the declarative scripting.

Jim Weaver's JavaFX Puzzler: The Puzzler4Compiled Program

Wed, 28 Nov 2007 13:00:00 EST

As I mentioned in my post a week ago, this JavaFX Puzzler will require writing a compiled JavaFX Script program. In subsequent posts on my Learning JavaFX weblog, I've provided instructions for using the OpenJFX Compiler to compile a JavaFX Script program into Java bytecode, and to run the program. If you haven't seen these posts, please review them first.

OpenJFX Script Compiler Now Downloadable

Wed, 28 Nov 2007 02:00:00 EST

Today, I'm going to explain how to save some steps by downloading the latest build of the OpenJFX Compiler rather than building it on your machine. If you decided not to build the compiler because it looked like a hassle, then relax - this is a lot easier. Just follow the instructions on the PlanetJFX page entitled How to Download the Latest Compiler Build Instead of Building It.

Obtaining the OpenJFX Script Compiler Just Got Easier

Wed, 28 Nov 2007 02:00:00 EST

Developing Your First Compiled JavaFX Script Program

Sat, 24 Nov 2007 06:45:00 EST

The next JavaFX Puzzler will be posted at 18:00 GMT (1:00PM EST) on Wednesday, November 28, 2007. It will be a compiled JavaFX Script puzzler, so you'll need to build the JavaFX Script Compiler in order to participate in the Puzzler. To help prepare you for the Puzzler, I'd like to you to develop a very basic 'Hello World' style program.

How To Develop and Run a JavaFX Script Program Using JavaFXPad

Fri, 23 Nov 2007 08:00:00 EST

There are several environments in which you can develop and run JavaFX Script programs. I'd like to help you become a JavaFX Script programmer in the next few minutes, so I'm going to show you the fastest route that I know of to get there, which includes using a tool that Sun created called JavaFXPad.

Closures in Compiled JavaFX Script

Thu, 22 Nov 2007 12:00:00 EST

One of the very useful (and cool) features of compiled JavaFX Script will be closures. In a nutshell, JavaFX Script closures provide the ability to define a function within another function with the inner function having access to the local variables of the outer function. This feature is enabled by the fact that in compiled JavaFX Script, functions are first-class objects, which provides the ability to assign functions to variables and to pass functions as arguments to other functions.