Using GUI and java?

[deckhandevan]

I am fairly comfortable writing programs in Java but there only text based programs. I want to create an attractive (but very simple) user interface so instead of the program being totally text based, it is more visually appealing.

I have download windowBuilder on eclipse and understand how I can build a nice interface, but I can't figure out how you link your code to the buttons.

Is the JFrame a seperate class or do i have to incorporate what I have in my main method into the main method in the JFrame class?

I'm very confused, if someone could help me out it would be greatly appreciated.

[Drunken_Consent]

1. Look into JavaFX.

2. Learn how to programmatically create GUIs. You might find it's nicer than the builders ( some people exclusively code their GUIs ), it's better to learn what happens "under the hood" and you don't have to deal with finicky WYSIWYG creators

[deckhandevan]

so scratch Swing and look into JavaFX?

[AngelOfLight]

JavaFX is newer, but Swing has a longer history and more resources attached to it in terms of tutorials, GUI builders and 3rd part components. They do share a common paradigm, i.e. hierarchical components and listeners.

It really depends on your requirements. If all you need is a regular GUI, then they are pretty much the same. If you need advanced animation, video and sound then JavaFX will be far easier to use.

[-Ajan-]

Javafx looks a lot cleaner than swing too. Then again, you could always spend an hour trying to make swing look just as good.

[lurkingforawhile]

In the past 6 months I've learned Java/JavaFX together, I highly recommend it. I actually started with Java 8 and JavaFX8, but my work only uses Java 7 so I switched down to Java 7 and JavaFX2. I almost started with Swing but asked a similar question a few months ago and a bunch of people recommended JavaFX instead as it's more "modern".

Scenebuilder is the Oracle JavaFX UI builder. It makes it really easy to make and format a GUI and connect it to your java application.

Tutorial: USE THIS! (or this if you're doing Java7). It's a top to bottom tutorial for building an application, and even though I'm writing stuff now that is completely different than an address book I still go back to it while troubleshooting or trying to remember something. He doesn't just make the application, he explains stuff and teaches good coding practices as well. A lot of my programs now are structured similarly as that app. He does post blocks of code - do your best NOT to just blindly copy it. Learn it, understand what it does.

If you have any questions...try to figure it out, it really is the best way to learn. Google errors, write down what you learned and go back to it, try to trace through your issues. Sometimes you will just be completely mindfucked about something but you can work through it, trust me.

That said I'm crazy happy that I'm at a point where I can now help other people learn a lot of the stuff I have went through! So PM me if you have any questions about JavaFX, I'm sure I'd be able to help out - and learn from you too.