Good Riddance JavaFX...not so fast

JavaOne 2010 has just ended and my love/hate relationship with JavaFX(JFX) is about to get a lot more intense. For the last year, I have been trying to force myself to learn JavaFX Script(JFXS) but it hasn't been easy. The language is a complete paradigm shift from Java. I have 14 years of experience with Java and have loved it from the first time I saw an applet bring life to static web pages. JFXS uses a completely new syntax, changes the meaning of terminology that Java developers have grown to accept and added totally new concepts to learn. Don't get me wrong, learning new concepts is part of who I am, but this was so different, I had to think differently about how to construct an application. It was weird. As it turns out, I was not alone.


Oracle must have heard my expletive filled rants about them creating a new language to do what Swing should have been empowered to do years ago. During JavaOne Oracle announced that they were going to scrap any further development of JavaFX Script and add the strengths of JFXS to Java.


Until that announcement, I was unaware that JFX and JFXS were two different things. I guess because JFXS was the only to program JFX, there was no need to differentiate between the two. Now that JFX is going to become a set of Java libraries, it will be available from Java and many of the other JVM languages. That was music to my ears. I love the power of JFX, but hate having to learn a new language to have access to that power.


So what does this mean for the future of Java GUI development?

• Don't expect any access to JFX from Java until JDK 7, which is scheduled for release some time in the first half of 2011.
• I am scrapping my two JFX books and will continue to focus on Swing.
• Since I love applets, I will follow my passion and release some real world applets. When the new JFX libraries are released, I will incorporate them into my Swing projects.
  
• It is my sincere hope that Java applets will gain a stronger foothold in the web browser wars. I think applets are superior and will support Java all the way.
  
• Hopefully Oracle will make Java GUI development more popular by using it themselves on their own web site and throughout their products.
  

The GUI is screaming for a new leader and JFX can capture this position. The real war will start next year with the release of JDK 7. I'm building my suit of Java/JFX armor right now.

Join me.