To Swing or Not to Swing?

[tmiranda]

I want to write a Java program that uses a GUI. Do most Java programmers use Swing or is there something better?

[stuckless]

Originally Posted by tmiranda

I want to write a Java program that uses a GUI. Do most Java programmers use Swing or is there something better?

If you are going to use Java... then I'd use swing... since there will be fewer dependencies. Aslo, if you download the window builder plugins for exclipse, you'll get some nice tools for laying out panels. If you are using netbeans, then they have a decent ui builder as well.

There are other things like swt, and bindings for libraries like qt, etc, but to be honest, for a simple ui, you might as well go with swing.

[tmiranda]

Originally Posted by stuckless

If you are going to use Java... then I'd use swing... since there will be fewer dependencies. Aslo, if you download the window builder plugins for exclipse, you'll get some nice tools for laying out panels. If you are using netbeans, then they have a decent ui builder as well.

There are other things like swt, and bindings for libraries like qt, etc, but to be honest, for a simple ui, you might as well go with swing.

Thanks. I just didn't want to spend a lot of time learning Swing only to find out that nobody used it. I'll do some trolling on the Netbeans and Eclipse forums.

[bastafidli]

I would recommend SWT from Eclipse project. You get native look and performance on most platforms.

[tmiranda]

Originally Posted by bastafidli

I would recommend SWT from Eclipse project. You get native look and performance on most platforms.

I started playing with the GUI builder in Netbeans. It's actually pretty easy and most UI elements can be done by dragging and dropping.

Now I just need to think of a fun project.

[david1234]

Originally Posted by bastafidli

I would recommend SWT from Eclipse project. You get native look and performance on most platforms.

The way I understand it, SWT was built from the ground up with the hooks into the OS to get native looking GUI's. This is probably the best way to go if it's something where your looking to really "polish". Otherwise, it all works. I've used Swing and it works just fine.

[nebulink]

Originally Posted by tmiranda

Now I just need to think of a fun project.

Why don't you try and integrate Navi-x? That would be nice.

[tmiranda]

Originally Posted by nebulink

Why don't you try and integrate Navi-x? That would be nice.

I don't think that will look particularly good in a Swing GUI Besides, it seems EvilPenguin thinks it can be done in his PlayOn plugin.

[nebulink]

It was worth a shot. I think Evilpenguin would also be a good fit for the project but I can't get a read on if he is willing to commit to his existing Playon app. The nice thing about Navi-x is that the video quality does not get downgraded like it does with Playon.

Ooops, starting to get side tracked. Good luck with your next project.

[tmiranda]

Originally Posted by nebulink

It was worth a shot. I think Evilpenguin would also be a good fit for the project but I can't get a read on if he is willing to commit to his existing Playon app. The nice thing about Navi-x is that the video quality does not get downgraded like it does with Playon.

Ooops, starting to get side tracked. Good luck with your next project.

Well, you got me interested in Navi-X so I'm looking at that. I suppose my Java GUI lessons will have to wait.

[nebulink]

That is great news. I have played with it in boxee and found that it makes boxee much better. That's when I thought if it could make boxee that much better then this would make the sage extenders awesome.

The extenders only real short coming is the lack of available online content. This should help fill that gap. Or at least I hope so.