Using java for desktop application

[AlexandrD]

Hello. I am C++ programmer and by some reason will be involved in developing desktop application in Java. It would be a client part of client-server. So should have a modern graphic interface. Why Java was selected. Wanted to run this client on any platform. Could you give me your comments on this. I read already from books about pluses and minuses of Java and it would be nice to here such comments from real world.

Thanks.

[dlorde]

I've been involved in developing several such applications. Found few problems apart from annoying inconsistencies in the Java libraries, especially Swing.

Having said that, in many cases this kind of application seems to be being supplanted by browser-based J2EE designs (JSP, servlets, and EJBs). This eliminates the problem of installation and update of the client software, although Java Web Start (http://java.sun.com/products/javawebstart/) now makes this very much simpler for such fat clients. The downside of the browser-based solution is the sometimes awkward interface between (D)HTML, JavaScript, JSP and Java.

Dave

[bayard]

Definitely go for Web Start. Also known as JNLP which is the specification it's based on, there is quite a good book out on it at the moment.

This kind of application will make a comeback now that JNLP is around I believe. Swing is a bit of a pain to use, but with patience it often makes a lot of sense. David Gearys books on AWT and Swing are, in my view, seminal.

GUI Builders for Swing have in my experience been weak and it's usually easier to code it from scratch. That way you're in complete control.

Bayard
bayard@generationjava.com
http://www.generationjava.com

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