Steve On Java

5/2 Update: Seats now available…  Sign-up now!

The JavaOne schedule builder just opened a few days ago, and the WidgetFX session has already filled up to capacity!

Here is a screenshot of what you will get if you try to sign up today:

WidgetFX Session Full!

So what if you wanted to attend, but haven’t signed up yet?  The JavaOne conference team is usually pretty good about reallocating rooms to make space for additional attendees, and if you click the yellow plus sign you will get an e-mail notification when additional space is available.

Fun Fact: The WidgetFX session was the earliest submitted session that was accepted by the review committee (check for yourself, there are no session numbers below TS-3789).

Also, you could always sign up for my other session with Jim Weaver on RIA Enterprise Application Development with JavaFX (TS-4861).  Only 191 seats left, so sign up ASAP.

I hope to see you at JavaOne!

I am pleased to announce the 0.4 release of the JFXtras project.  This is a pretty significant release for the project, which includes quite a bit of new functionality, as well as a new project subdivision.

The JFXtras project has been split into the following three subprojects:

• JFXtras Core – Contains everything you need to quickly and easily build rich JavaFX applications.  This includes Layouts, UI Controls, Shapes, Borders, Utilities, etc.
• JFXtras Test – This provides a comprehensive unit and UI test suite along with wrappers for running from the command line or a visual client (coming soon).
• JFXtras Samples – This is a new project dedicated to providing high quality JavaFX samples to teach the language and bootstrap innovation.  More on this coming in the next few weeks, but if you are interested in contributing or helping out let me know.

The release today is for JFXtras Core, which is now Java 1.5 compatible, and includes some brand new features courtesy of Jim Clarke.  This includes a wide assortment of styleable Borders:

New JFXtras Borders Support

As well as:

• Styleable ScrollBars and ScrollViews
• A JSON Handler to automagically populate JavaFX objects from a remote connection

Which is in addition to a whole slew of other cool features including:

• A new Constraints system for specifying how nodes are laid out with a uniform API
• Significant updates to the JFXtras Grid
• New resizable layouts including: ResizableCustomNode, ResizableImageView, ResizableMediaView, ResizableHBox, ResizableVBox, and updates to ResizableRectangle
• A new version of the Shapes library
• An ImageFix class that resolves backgroundLoading issues and an ImageUtility class to help with common operations
• Defect fixes for Shapes, Dialogs, and others

You can download the latest bits here:  http://code.google.com/p/jfxtras/downloads/list.  And also browse the online Javadocs.

Thanks to the whole JFXtras crew for putting together another huge release!

I just got word back yesterday that the WidgetFX session for JavaOne was approved!  Josh Marinacci and I will be hosting the definitive session on desktop widgets for all you JavaFX fans.

WidgetFX JavaOne Session, sign up today!

The session is entitled “Getting Started with WidgetFX: Open-Source Widget Desktop Platform with JavaFX^TM Technology”, and will cover how to:

• Convert a JavaFX application to a desktop widget
• Package your widget so it will install and execute with one click
• Reuse existing JavaFX and Java technology-based APIs in your widget
• Develop signed widgets with access to system resources
• Communicate with enterprise Web services from the desktop, using JavaFX technology
• Hook into existing APIs to do cool things such as interact with hardware, use 3-D, and embed Flash
• Build widgets that can also be deployed on mobile devices

If you haven’t already signed up for JavaOne and are a JUG member, make sure to take advantage of the $100 discount mentioned on Van Riper’s blog.

See you at JavaOne!