Programming with JFC [Paperback]

Scott R. Weiner (Author), Stephen Asbury (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 21, 1998 | ISBN-10: 0471247316 | ISBN-13: 978-0471247319

Using the JFC's Swing API you can quickly create familiar or unique GUIs for your applications and applets using numerous components including trees, tables, lists, and HTML text elements. A library of powerful user-interface components that feature pluggable look-and-feel, Swing lets you build Java programs that can either change dynamically to match the look and feel of any platform they're run on, or remain platform-neutral. In addition, Swing provides a new framework for creating your own components, as well as designing your application code.

In this book, authors Scott Weiner and Stephen Asbury take a hands-on approach to mastering JFC. Using tons of working examples, complete tested source code, and a library of ready-to-use GUI components, they:
* Give you a complete breakdown for each Swing component
* Provide detailed style guidelines for each class
* Show you how to build your own custom JFC components
* Demonstrate Swing programming techniques in the context of a large application
* Cover advanced topics, such as the Undo framework, animated icons, GUIs for the disabled, and more.

On the CD-ROM you get:
* Over 100 basic and advanced example Java programs focused on specific components or techniques.
* Ready-to-use Java components
* Two useful, complete Swing-based applications with source code that demonstrate multiple techniques in a single program.
* JavaSoft's JDK 1.1. x and Java Foundation Classes version 1.1
* Alchemy's GifBuilder

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Some of the most appealing features of Java programming are the Swing user interface classes in the Java Foundation Classes (JFC) from Sun Microsystems. Programming with JFC is a useful guide to the powers of Swing classes, which let Java programmers create rich user interfaces that rival native code interfaces in both complexity and functionality.

Programming with JFC begins with a quick tour of the basic principles of programming with Swing. First, Swing components are "lightweight" components (which means they do their graphics work using Java, not "native" code, as with the Abstract Window Toolkit (AWT) controls). Also, the authors do a good job of explaining the model-view-controller (MVC) architecture found in Swing components. MVC means that the different functions of controls are split up: display is handled by a view class, events are handled by a controller class, and the data are handled by a model class. MVC is one of the most rewarding features of Swing, but it does add complexity; the authors do a good job of outlining what you need to know to be productive, without getting bogged down in obsessive technical detail.

The majority of this text explores the basic features of Swing user interface classes, starting with layout managers; new features, such as springs and struts; and actual controls, such as buttons. Wisely, the authors begin with simpler controls before taking on the complexities of using data models with more advanced control types, such as trees and tables. Along the way, the authors delve into menus, toolbars, and dialog boxes, showing that Swing is capable of designing applications in Java that are just as rich and functional as anything written in other programming languages.

Much of the book contains source code and reference material to the features of Swing classes, but there is plenty of expertise on display, too; the book includes some excellent material on debugging Swing graphics and even some guidelines to designing custom Swing components. Overall, Programming with JFC is a great introduction to one of today's most compelling Java technologies. Swing is almost sure to be a winner with developers, and this intelligent text shows why it's a superior solution to creating appealing and efficient user interfaces in Java.

From the Publisher

Java Foundation Classes (JFC) are a set of Java classes used to design graphical user interfaces (GUIs) from Javasoft and Netscape. This book shows Java programmers how to create GUIs using JFC. CD-ROM contains over 100 example programs and ready to use GUI programs.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 576 pages
• Publisher: Wiley (April 21, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0471247316
• ISBN-13: 978-0471247319
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 7.5 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.3 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (14 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #5,503,121 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars I would buy this book again, January 7, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Programming with JFC (Paperback)

I'm new to Swing and Java. This book provided alot of good examples to get me started with Swing and able to produce working programs quickly. My next book purchases will be books that do a better job describing the details of Swing and Java in general.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Good overview of Swing components, December 2, 1998

By 

Scott Hodson (South Orange County, CA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Programming with JFC (Paperback)

This book is a pretty thorough review of JFC and the individual components. Familiarity with AWT is recommended to cruise through this book though.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A really good start, October 30, 2000

By 

Ben Rothke "Author of 'Computer Security: 20 ... (USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Programming with JFC (Paperback)

Programming with JFC focuses on the Swing component of the Java programming language. Swing is a toolkit that attempts to simplify and streamline the development of the windowing components, namely the visual components (such as menus, toolbars, dialog boxes, etc.) that are used in GUI-based programs. More information about Swing can be found at the Swing Connection home page at http://java.sun.com/products/jfc/tsc/index.html. If you are short on cash, you could glean the bulk of the information provided by this book from the free resources available on-line at the Swing Connection and save yourself nearly fifty dollars.

While Java itself allows programs to be written once for different platforms, Swing components can be designed in such a way that they will execute without modification on any kind of computer with the identical look and feel of the operating system.

As an example, when you create a program with Swing for Windows 95, it will have the look and feel of an application written specifically for Windows 95. When you run the same program under Solaris, it runs like an application written explicitly for Solaris.

Programming with JFC begins with an overview of Swing programming and Swing specific component. The authors detail the difference between what the Java Abstract Window Toolkit (AWT) offers as opposed to the Swing-based model-view-controller (MVC) architecture. More precisely, Swing sits on top of a number of the AWT API's.

The majority of the book details the features set of Swing, from its user interface classes, to its controls and implementation. The authors start with simple controls before moving onto the more detailed issues of advanced controls such as trees and tables.

The book comes with a CD-ROM (naturally) that includes numerous examples, source code and a library of ready-to-use GUI components. Also, similar material is also available via Swing Connection.

Overall, the book provides an excellent introduction to JFC. While it is not a definitive or comprehensive guide to Swing, it does cover most of its important aspects.