JavaFX

JavaFX 2.0

JavaFX 2.0, the new version of the platform of functional and rich client Java applications which is initially developed in Sun Microsystems until the end of spring of 2011 will pass into a stage of open beta testing. The final version of the platform should appear later in a current of year.

The API set for work with Wednesday on Java, the high-performance graphic core, support of reproduction multimedia, an opportunity to implement HTML-content in JavaFX-applications, new elements of user interfaces and the simplified installation will become the main innovations of JavaFX 2.0.

The API set is offered instead of the JavaFX Script language which was earlier used in the platform. The developers who are still wishing to apply language of scripts can use the Visage project which provides a possibility of creation of user interfaces using a declarative programming language.

The JavaFX platform competes to other technologies of creation of functional and rich clients: HTML5, Microsoft Silverlight and Adobe Flash.

New interfaces will allow:

• apply powerful functionality of Java, such as the parametrized types, summaries and multithreading
• simplify use by JavaFX web developer in other popular dynamic programming languages, such as JRuby, Groovy and JavaScript.

Full-function client applications based on JavaFX 2.0 are entirely developed on Java. Applying Java both in server, and in a client part of applications, developers can reduce considerably risks, having simplified business solutions, consider in Oracle. JavaFX 2.0 provides the web component working based on the engine of web rendering Webkit and allowing developers to combine and integrate effectively traditional opportunities of Java and dynamic opportunities of web technologies.

Developers can use the existing Java libraries, get access to the built-in opportunities of systems or be connected effectively to server binding applications based on Java Platform, Enterprise Edition (Java EE) from applications of JavaFX. Existing applications of Java Swing can be easily upgraded using new features of JavaFX, such as full-function graphical program interface, reproduction multimedia and the built-in web content, says Oracle.

"With the second version of JavaFX it will be simpler to customers and partners to create modern, expressive graphic user interfaces and visual representations of data, relying on the available knowledge and investments into Java technologies — said Nandini Ramani, the vice president for development, Java Client Group, Oracle. — The JavaFX 2.0 platform is the latest development considering requirements of compatibility with all new characteristics and functionality of the Java Development Kit (JDK) set, including that which will appear in the version of JDK 8, for example, modularity and by the 'closed' methods".

JavaFX 2.0 gives to developers flexible opportunities for creating applications using the preferred tools and programming languages. So, FXML, language with scriptability based on a markup language of XML and intended for the description of user interfaces is entered into JavaFX 2.0. The developers familiar with web technologies or other markup languages based on XML will easily master FXML and its opportunities for creation of various applications, such as data visualization and business applications based on forms.

JavaFX 2.0 also allows to apply the popular scripting languages supported by the Java virtual machine (JVM) such as Groovy, JRuby and Scala, and integrates simplicity of dynamic languages with extensive functionality of the Java platform.

Besides, at JavaFX creating applications developers will be able to use the preferred Java development tools, for example, of NetBeans and Eclipse. The JavaFX applications are implemented or as desktop applications, or in a protect mode via the browser using the connected module Java.

In addition Oracle submitted the new projects and programs connected with the JavaFX platform: public beta of JavaFX 2.0 for Mac OS X; the closed program of fact-finding access with JavaFX Scene Builder, the instrument of visual creation of the interface for the JavaFX platform (allows to design the screen by drag and drop from a palette and placement on the stage of components of the user interface). Public beta testing of Scene Builder is planned for the beginning of 2012.

Due to the change of internal architecture JavaFX 2.0 Oracle corporation announced in February, 2012 the forthcoming termination of support of older versions of this platform of functional and rich Internet-applications. The applications based on JavaFX 1.2 and 1.3 by the end of this year need to be updated by transfer to version 2.0, specify in Oracle.

To JavaFX 2.0 work with the platform happened to the help of the JavaFX Script language. In 2010 at the JavaOne conference the Oracle company announced that it will refuse JavaFX Script and implements calls of all JavaFX 2.0 functions in API Java. The environment of execution JavaFX 2.0 for Windows was released in October of last year, and preliminary releases for Mac OS X and Linux appeared later.

An opportunity to load JavaFX 1.2 and 1.3 on the website of Oracle will remain till December 20. Let's remind, the SUN Microsystems company provided JavaFX in 2007 as the Java expansion allowing to create multiplatform applications rich with graphics. Oracle after purchase of Sun continued to develop JavaFX, but this technology is less popular, than other platforms of similar appointment, - Flash and Silverlight.

JavaFX 8

The version of JavaFX 8 will be released as a part of implementation of Oracle Java Development Kit (JDK) 8 and will serve as basic tool kit of development of the user interface for Java SE 8 Embedded, providing the uniform approved coding environment of applications both for built in, and for the desktop systems. JavaFX 8, as expected, will include:

• The public Public UI Control API API interface which will allow other developers creating controlling units of the user interface to provide the ascending compatibility with future versions of JavaFX.
• The support of additional tags of HTML5 implemented in the WebView component that raises the compatibility level between Java and HTML5.
• Expanded support 3D for the best data visualization and the innovation user interfaces.
• Support of languages with the bidirectional letter (in which words usually write from right to left, and digits – from left to right) and difficult symbol sets that will provide complete internationalization of the platform.
• JavaFX SceneBuilder 2.0 will also support the JavaFX 8 functions and, besides, will facilitate interaction with NetBeans Integrated Development Environment (IDE) and other integrated development environments of Java.
• Oracle intends to standardize the corresponding parts of JavaFX within process of JCP during development of Java SE 9.

"We continue to develop JavaFX and JavaFX Scene Builder together with Java SE for ensuring compatibility with the JDK tools, including all latest functions implemented in the version of JDK 8, – noted Nandini Ramani, the vice president of Oracle for the direction Software Development, Java Client and Mobile Platforms. – The full integration of JavaFX in the version of Java SE from Oracle gives the best opportunities both for developers, and for end users of applications of Java".