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JavaFX 1.2


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The new JavaFX has arrived !!

posted Jun 1, 2009 6:13 AM by Jan Goyvaerts   [ updated Jun 2, 2009 2:26 PM ]

FINALLY !!!

For me personally, the 1.2 JavaFX is not only a release, but also a relieve.
  • The fact Sun still makes releases of JavaFX proves they're not abandoning this unique and grossly underestimated product.
  • I'm about to form one of the first JavaFX crew in Belgium in order to have them prove it is a force to reckon with. This release is the final go for my project. I'm not going to teach a dead language after all !
  • And as a Linux addict I can only be delighted I don't have to cannibalize the Mac release any more. Nor do I have to reboot in Windows to develop in JavaFX.
I had it yesterday already thanks to a leak in the user forum of Sun.

LINUX INSTALL
The product comes in two flavors: the command-line SDK (javafx_sdk-1_2-linux-i586.sh) and a pre-configured Netbeans 6.5.1 (netbeans-6_5_1-javafx_sdk-1_2-linux-i586.sh).

The command-line SDK is simply running the script and the SDK unpacks in the current directory. But as the SDK runs on top of a JDK 1.6.0_11+, it will only work if you define a JAVA_HOME environment variable pointing to such a JDK install. And Sun just released the 1.6.0b14 jdk. What a coincidence...

Installing Netbeans 6.5.1 is simply running the installer script. And finally the installer looks normal on my KDE4 configuration. (No more invisible controls for instance.) So it seems work has been done there too. I have no JAVA_HOME environment variable defined so I have to provide the installer the location using the option --javahome <location>.
Netbeans boots ok and looks identical to its Windows equivalent. The weird thing is that Netbeans requires a JAVA_HOME variabled defined as well. Even if Netbeans is already running that particular JDK.

QUICK BROWSING JAVAFX 1.2
  • Release notes of Sun : http://javafx.com/docs/articles/javafx1-2.jsp
  • Opening my 1.1.1 compliant projects results in a number of compilation errors. Just like the previous releases, the language has been modified. But this time nothing radical.
  • Playing mp3's runs under Linux now too !
  • Alas, playback of some video formats in Linux still results in an unsupported media exception. Although I have a working gstreamer installed. Bug or misconfiguration ?
  • Code completion still is case sensitive. Aouch...
  • I know the chances were slim, but I was quietly hoping for a GUI designer tool. Something to compete with Flex in productivity with. But then, they don't have the Production Suite.
  • Sadly, neither does the Linux version of JavaFX 1.2. It would have come in handy to convert the Inkscape svg designs.
  • BIG news : A lot of new GUI controls - in the common profile !!! Which should mean they're available for mobile applications too.
  • The JavaFX API doc still looks, well, equally impractical. It's not exactly good looking and in my opinion not exactly easy for the beginners.
  • I still have to try this, but it looks like we have scrollable panels. No need to write your own scrolling stuff. Nice !
  • Charting also ?? VERY good !!!
  • A substantial efford was made to remaster http and usage of web services, rss and atom.
  • No mobile emulators for Linux.
  • A lot of other features that have been added.
CONCLUSION

It's a bit early to jump to big conclusions, but I think release 1.2 made a big step in the right direction: Linux support, new native controls and better handling of http. It's definitly worth a try if you're about to evaluatie a RIA solution for your project. Although I'm convinced many think it less productive than Flex because there is no GUI designer tool.

The Linux guys can finally start using it. But be a aware of the unsupported features !

Personally I was expecting Netbeans 6.7 to support JavaFX as a plugin. And not a special Netbeans 6.5.1 release. I have been using the 6.7 releases for some time. But now I have to go back to the 6.5.1 release again.

JavaFX is not going to die after all. So it's worth investing your time in this wondeful language making thing possible for the common developer that were once the private domain for an elite.

Finally : Congratulations to the JavaFX team !


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