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Java

Posted by Kshitij Sinha
Kshitij Sinha
3,186 Points

What are some of the alternatives to Java Swings?

What are some of the alternative options to develop a functional application but without Java Swings? If possible please let me know something that does not involve Java or C#

5 Answers

Ryan Ruscett
Ryan Ruscett
23,309 Points
Ryan Ruscett
Ryan Ruscett
23,309 Points

Hey,

Unfortunately you wont get away making a Java GUI without Java. There are several Java GUI frameworks that are not swing. There is AWT, a lot like swing. SWT, SwingX, JGoodies and as Gene mentioned. JavaFx.

If you try an IDE like NetBeans, you can have a GUI builder. Where you can drag and drop all sorts of styled buttons and stuff onto the screen and it generates the code behind the scenes.

Let me know if that helps answer your question.

Thanks!

Gene Osborne
Gene Osborne
8,630 Points
Gene Osborne
Gene Osborne
8,630 Points

One good alternative is JavaFX. You can find information about it with a simple search engine query or wait for the teamtreehouse course coming this August: http://teamtreehouse.com/library/build-a-javafx-application/upcoming.

JavaFX is (and has been slowly) replacing swing as Oracle's go to GUI tool.

Here is a link to Oracle's get started in javafx tutorial: http://docs.oracle.com/javase/8/javafx/get-started-tutorial/get_start_apps.htm#JFXST804

Good luck!

Gene Osborne
Gene Osborne
8,630 Points
Gene Osborne
Gene Osborne
8,630 Points

My bad. I did not realize that you wanted to stay away from Java and C#.

That being said, it depends on the purpose of the GUI. If you want to build web applications, I could recommend Ruby On Rails or javascript.

Otherwise, there are many to choose from (including more web app options):

For the C++ language, there are many: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_platform-independent_GUI_libraries. C++ is similar to Java/C#, but I figured I would mention them because I don't know your reasons for staying away from Java/C#.

For the python programming language there are several: https://wiki.python.org/moin/GuiProgramming

And, of course, we cannot forget the Visual Basic programming language, a language known for its excellent GUI tools.

I hope that helps.

Kshitij Sinha
Kshitij Sinha
3,186 Points
Kshitij Sinha
Kshitij Sinha
3,186 Points

Thanks a lot Gene Osborne and Ryan Ruscett! Basically my only problem with using Java to develop GUI is that there is just too much of code, too much you have to do to get things done. I was wondering if there was an easier way to develop GUI based applications.

Ryan Ruscett
Ryan Ruscett
23,309 Points
Ryan Ruscett
Ryan Ruscett
23,309 Points

I hear that on the Java GUI. If you want to stick in the Java realm but make sweet GUI's with 60 percent less code. Use Jython. I program ALL my GUI's in Jython. I love it!!! It's python but you can use Java Libraries. There was a new build in 2015 so it might be exactly what you are looking for. It's super fast and wayyyyyy easier.

Jython

Kshitij Sinha
Kshitij Sinha
3,186 Points
Kshitij Sinha
Kshitij Sinha
3,186 Points

Thanks alot Ryan Ruscett i will get right on with Jython.