Creating desktop app using java

[motorola]

Hi all,

I've been a loyal follower of .Net during my life as a developer, but now I'm thinking of migrating to Java. I've heard that creating a desktop app using Java is very hard compared to Visual Studio, since the components such as textbox, datagrid, DTPicker, combobox, listbox, checkbox, radio button, buttons, etc must be hand coded manually. Can someone please enlighten me?
thank you very much.

[JosAH]

No, those objects are already there; all you have to do is instantiate them, stick them in a LayoutManager, add the appropriate listeners and you're in business; don't believe all those rumours ...

kind regards,

Jos

[motorola]

What IDE should I use? I tried using eclipse, but didn't see the toolbox where I can drag and drop the control objects. Should I use netbeans? thanks for the reply

[JosAH]

What IDE should I use? I tried using eclipse, but didn't see the toolbox where I can drag and drop the control objects. Should I use netbeans? thanks for the reply

Eclipse does have a plugin component that can do what you want (I never used it though). I'm not a great fan of those tools, i.e. they do things behind your back that you either don't want or don't understand or can't get rid of. I prefer "hand made" gui components; it is not as difficult as you think, it just takes a bit of understanding what and how those visual components (notably Swing components) are organized. b.t.w. NetBeans also has such a tool (built-in, not a plugin and I have never used that either ;-)

kind regards,

Jos

[motorola]

"Hand made"? does that mean you have to manually hand code it? could you please give a me a link or a pdf so that I can research further about this? thanks

[JosAH]

Read this: Trail: Creating a GUI With JFC/Swing (The Java™ Tutorials); hand made code isn't a dirty word ;-)

kind regards,

Jos