Latest practice in GUI development

[arjun chandar]

Hi, i'm new to GUI programming in java. For most part, i've written console output programs. With improved reach of web technologies, i wanted to ask.. if i want to develop Desktop applications, which lets say have nothing to do with internet, what is the latest practice in GUI development? Is it swing ? since i hear most people say swing is out dated since everything is web.

So does this mean, java applications are now in fact coded as desktop applications and some other technology like JSP is used to deploy such application and give it GUI?

Please let me know as i have to start catching up with GUI development. Choosing the latest path, will guide me to learn one thing well, which is accepted as current practice.

[Mohamed Sanaulla]

If you want to develop applications web applications- you have lot of technologies like Flex, JavaScript/Ajax, JavaFX which allow you to create Rich Internet Applications (RIA). These technologies provide users with rich UI which is similar to that one can achieve in desktop applications.

So for creating UI for Desktop applications- You might want to check with- Adobe Air, JavaFX which integrate easily with Java.

It depends on the requirement of the application you are trying to develop- Do you want it to be Web based or a desktop based.

These days all the applications have been moving to the Web and with other technical advancements- Web applications seem to be gaining more popularity. Also for web applications- the users need not do any kind of installation, no compatibility issues. Though web applications need some kind of browser plugins to run (applications which use Flex, JavaFX) but that is easier to get and download.

[arjun chandar]

I will look into JavaFX for UI for web applications. I am currently taking a course, which covers JavaScript/Ajax, JSF, CSS and XHTML.

But for desktop applications, lets say i wanna write java code and make it as a simple app, for example copy file from one location to another, or make a player like winamp with buttons and functionality. For this purpose, where an app does not need internet, and is totally desktop and portable (of course with java), what user interface would be appropriate?

I understand the consequence of web and development of RIA which is why im currently covering that. I also wanna be able to show some aspects of desktop app, like above mentioned with GUI in windows for example. Please suggest some paths to explore for such GUI. I know very little about Swings, and wanted to know if there are other options which would surpass it, or is it better to go with Swings.

[arjun chandar]

JavaFX :

I was doing some research on JavaFX, and in fact it mentions that JavaFX supports UI for Desktop applicaions, web and mobile apps. So would this be a good option to explore than swing for my desktop applicaions?

Thanks again for all the advice in advance.

[Mohamed Sanaulla]

You can also look at Adobe Air for desktop applications. But JavaFX roadmap looks promising.