JavaFX Script
From Takeoff to Cruising Altitude...
Matthew J. McCullough
Ambient Ideas, LLC

Deployments

A quick review of terms

JavaFX Script

JavaFX Script
JavaFX Mobile

JavaFX Mobile
•Complete Mobile Phone Stack
•Think “Google Android”

JavaFX Script
• Formerly known as F3
•A new Java-like scripting language
specifically for RIAs
• Think Silverlight, Flex, or AIR

“ The write once, run anywhere portability of
Java technology has helped make it the world's
most widely deployed application platform.
Now, Sun is introducing JavaFX Script, a highly
productive scripting language that enables
content developers to leverage the enormous
popularity of Java to create rich applications
and services for deployment on the widest
range of platforms - from mobile devices to set-
top boxes and Blu-ray Discs to desktops.
”

Hello RIA World
Code Demo

Competing with
other Runtimes

*Ajax has behavior issues on browsers other than Firefox, Safari, & Internet Explorer
*AIR to support Linux at a later date

Product Browser Desktop Platforms
*Ajax has behavior issues on browsers other than Firefox, Safari, & Internet Explorer
*AIR to support Linux at a later date

Product Browser Desktop Platforms
Ajax ✔ 3*
*Ajax has behavior issues on browsers other than Firefox, Safari, & Internet Explorer
*AIR to support Linux at a later date

Product Browser Desktop Platforms
Ajax ✔ 3*
Adobe Flash ✔ 4
*Ajax has behavior issues on browsers other than Firefox, Safari, & Internet Explorer
*AIR to support Linux at a later date

Product Browser Desktop Platforms
Ajax ✔ 3*
Adobe Flash ✔ 4
Adobe Flex ✔ 4
*Ajax has behavior issues on browsers other than Firefox, Safari, & Internet Explorer
*AIR to support Linux at a later date

Product Browser Desktop Platforms
Ajax ✔ 3*
Adobe Flash ✔ 4
Adobe Flex ✔ 4
Adobe AIR ✔ 2*
*Ajax has behavior issues on browsers other than Firefox, Safari, & Internet Explorer
*AIR to support Linux at a later date

Product Browser Desktop Platforms
Ajax ✔ 3*
Adobe Flash ✔ 4
Adobe Flex ✔ 4
Adobe AIR ✔ 2*
Microsoft Silverlight ✔ 2
*Ajax has behavior issues on browsers other than Firefox, Safari, & Internet Explorer
*AIR to support Linux at a later date

Product Browser Desktop Platforms
Ajax ✔ 3*
Adobe Flash ✔ 4
Adobe Flex ✔ 4
Adobe AIR ✔ 2*
Microsoft Silverlight ✔ 2
Sun JavaFX Script ✔ ✔ 4+
*Ajax has behavior issues on browsers other than Firefox, Safari, & Internet Explorer
*AIR to support Linux at a later date

Applets are Back
&
WebStart is Hot

JavaFX Interest Poll
JavaFWhat?
Not At All
Not Very
Source: Java.net JavaFX Poll, August 2007 Somewhat
Very

JavaFX Interest Poll
70% JavaFWhat?
Not At All
Not Very
Source: Java.net JavaFX Poll, August 2007 Somewhat
Very

Source: TIOBE Programming Community Index for December 2007

Source: TIOBE Programming Community Index for December 2007

Mouse Events
Code Demo

Just Show Me
Something Cool

Music Pinboard
Demo

Consumer JRE Size
•Current JRE download is 12MB
•Reduced Footprint
through Java SE 6 Update N
•Goal of 2MB

Consumer JRE Size
Idea Source: Danny Coward, JAZOON 07, Zurich

Consumer JRE Micro Bundles
•Back-to-Basics JRE
•Starts with hello world support
•Downloads additional parts as needed
Source: Java SE 6 Update N Early Access Program & Jim Weaver’s JavaFX Blog

Consumer JRE Performance
•Quick Starter for cold starts
•Prefetches portions of JRE into memory
•Graphics rendering hardware acceleration
Source: Java SE 6 Update N Early Access Program

The Language

Interpreted vs. Compiled

Interpreted
‣ Starting point for language
‣ Proof of Concept only
‣ In process of deprecation
‣ But has current IDE Support

Compiled
‣ Official language tool, javafxc
‣ Built on top of javac
‣ Open Source
‣ Work In Progress, but very usable

Bind Operator
‣ Automatic binding of form element to
data model
‣ Core JDK has no equivalent
‣ Libraries such as Swinglabs only
partially accomplish this for Swing
‣ Built on Beans Binding JSR 295 library

Bean Binding
Code Demo

Threads
‣ DO, DOLATER currently in interpreter

Threads
“(Working on SwingWorker
wrapper in compiler) so it is as easy
(possibly easier) to use as AJAX's
XMLHttpRequest”
-Tom Ball

The Compatibilty Secret
‣ Swing based rendering on PC devices
‣ Other rendering engine for smaller
devices such as Blu-Ray

SceneGraph
Effect
‣ Objectifying nodes Composite
Node
‣ Binding nodes together
‣ Adding behavior to TextField Box
composite nodes
‣ Standalone Java library Radial
Gradient
SimpleLabel

JavaFX 2D Tutorial
Code Demo

Animation
‣ Interpreted:
picks.opacity = [0, .01..1] dur 1000 linear
‣ Compiled:
Key frames, timeline

Animation
As many as 500 lines of Swing code
equivalent to 10 of JavaFX

Keyframe Animation
‣ Next step in JavaFX animation
‣ Advanced capabilities
‣ Currently in compiler in rough state

Bounce
Code Demo

Guitar
Code Demo

JavaFX 2D Tutorial
Code Demo

Java3D’s Successor
“
Specifically, we are working on a
new 3D scene graph, as part of the
JavaFX player, that will complement
the 2D Scenario scene graph. Its
initial focus will be 3D effects,
casual games, and simple 3D
”
viewing applications...
Source: http://forums.java.net/jive/thread.jspa?threadID=36022&tstart=0

Mix & Match

The Perfect Blend
•Leverages all existing Java libraries
•Retro-capable back to JRE 1.5
•Browser, Desktop, and Phone
•Groovy, JRuby, Scala, Jaskell, Jython

Mix & Match Groovy
Code Demo

IDEs
‣ NetBeans
‣ Eclipse
‣ IntelliJ
‣ ReportMill

NetBeans JavaFX Plugin

Previewing Results
‣ Live preview of code changes
‣ No compile cycle delay for testing
‣ But uses Interpreter...

NetBeans Demo

ReportMill JFXBuilder
•Most advanced demos
•Representative of future tools from Sun

ReportMill
Path Animation Demo

Designers vs. Coders

“
Sun’s JavaFX Tools are
turning the workflow sideways
”
James Gosling
Source: http://www.regdeveloper.co.uk/2008/01/24/javafx_tools_adobe/

“ Our architecture is more like the coder
does this part and the artist does this
part, and then the artist can do the
plugging in [of the design] themselves.
They can update the artwork and the
[developer] guy can update the code,
and they are talking to the tool together.
”
It's not conditional on the other.
James Gosling
Source: http://www.regdeveloper.co.uk/2008/01/24/javafx_tools_adobe/

Sun Microsystems is working on interoperability between
design tools from Adobe Systems and its upcoming JavaFX
tools for application developers building rich application
interfaces and rich-internet applications (RIAs).
James Gosling, Sun vice president and fellow, told Register
Developer that Sun is working to ensure interoperability -
rather than provide its own design tools.
“
We are putting a lot of effort into interoperability with the
Adobe tools - a lot of the Adobe tools are wired into the
neurons of the artists of the world. We are not trying to be a
”
completely isolated island that has all the tools for everybody.
James Gosling
Source: http://www.regdeveloper.co.uk/2008/01/24/javafx_tools_adobe/

Q&A

Q&A
Email questions to:
MatthewM@AmbientIdeas.com
Slides & Source Code at:
www.AmbientIdeas.com/engineering/engineering-training.html

Resources
•James Weaver’s JavaFX Blog
http://learnjavafx.typepad.com
•Sun JavaFX Script Homepage
http://www.sun.com/software/javafx/script/index.jsp
•ReportMill JFXBuilder
http://www.reportmill.com/jfx/
•Planet JFX
http://jfx.wikia.com/wiki/Main_Page

Resources
•JavaFX Language Reference, Nightly Build
http://openjfx.java.sun.com/current-build/doc/JavaFX-Language.html
•Project SceneGraph
https://scenegraph.dev.java.net/
•Comparing Flex and Ajax Dev Models
http://www.adobe.com/newsletters/edge/february2008/articles/article4/
•Swinging in Groovy
http://groovy.dzone.com/tips/swinging-groovy-fun

Quotes
•Rich Green @ Java One San Fran
•“Meant for building Rich Internet
Applications (RIAs)”
•“For content professionals”
•“All based on Swing and Java 2D”

Quotes
• Danny Coward, JAZOON 07, Zurich
• Visual Tools, Visual Developers
• Only occasionally dropping down to script level coding
• Meant for animated, simple, client apps that are highly
branded
• Not used much by technical java developers

Quotes
•Chris Oliver, creator of JavaFX Script
• Created Motorola equivalent site in 3 days