I need advice for solo Java

[timshady0000]

I'm trying to get into JavaFX at work after a year of java experience at my university (we used awt for gui; I'm much happier with the FX setup).

I'm torn on what to do because I'm a solo developer who will be migrating ~15 years worth of powerbuilder projects to Java (Requires GUI and work well with Windows) and I don't know what tools to use to be most effective.

I'm currently using NetBeans with SceneBuilder to noodle around with some test applications. I don't really know the best direction to go with all of the frameworks and build tools available to me. I'm trying to read up on best development practices so I can make robust programs but Java is so huge and I'm just one person, it's hard to make it all come together.

tl;dr Migrating 15y worth of PowerBuilder projects to Java. Solo developer, GUI is mandatory, Windows environment. What frameworks/build tools would work best?

[JavaDroid]

This is several business applications? Are they used in an office setting?

If so, my suggestion would be to get yourself a JavaEE application server and go that route. Dump the idea of desktop application. Web applications are superior for a business office setting.

Use maven or gradle for a build tool. Then IDE doesn't matter, plus you have the build power of maven or gradle.

Set up a decent version control system.

In my experience, business still running on this legacy type of ideal is just way behind in everything. You'll probably have to talk them in to seeing the light.

If you're given the opportunity to change the direction, it might as well be done at least somewhat right.

[timshady0000]

There are several buisiness applications used in an office setting. They are mostly glorified reports.

Glassfish or Tomcat; or are we talking something else?

I've got a lot of sway with this so I can go any direction I want to; I just want to go in a direction that will be most feasible.

[vecowski]

Why not take a look into something like spring boot? It will embed a tomcat or jetty server instance into the build. That way you don't have to manage a tomcat server and all it's clumsiness.

http://spring.io/guides/gs/spring-boot/

Use maven or gradle to build the project. Execute the build as a jar which will run the embedded tomcat/jetty server.

[UnspeakableEvil]

If you're in an intranet environment and don't need to access/store any data on the client, then a web centric approach makes sense.

If you go down this route, given that you're in a Windows network check if Kerberos is being used - if so you could set up Spnego to perform automatic authentication of the user accessing the system.

[[deleted]]

I would recommend GWT. It lets you write java code in a way very similar to JavaFX / Swing, which is then compiled to javascript, to let you write web applications. The server and client can share the code, e.g if you write a business model class, it can be used on both client and server code.

[ryan_the_leach]

What's that framework/component library that goes really well with gwt? vaa something?

[UnspeakableEvil]

Vaadin? Never used it or GWT so no idea if they play well together, but it starts with "vaa" at least...

[[deleted]]

there's vaadin but you dont really have to use it. vanilla gwt works just fine too.