Wouldn't you like to be able to design GUIs in a medium that wasn't entirely dependent on a specific development environment or delivery platform—and then be able to activate that GUI from the language of your choice, AND have it run in any platform? Do you care? Do you agree with this editorial? Tell us why or why not in the talk.editors.devx discussion group.
SWT, XML Put True Cross-platform GUIs Within Reach
The reality of a single cross-language, cross-platform GUI interface programming model is in sight, based on an XML description language supported by fast native runtimes. Will Mozilla, Eclipse, or someone else step in and complete the last mile that gives all developers a common way to design and program fast cross-platform user interfaces?
by A. Russell Jones, Executive Editor
October 29, 2002
he Java world has a new toy called SWT (the Standard Widget Toolkit), created by IBM and integrated with the Eclipse development environment. SWT is a platform-specific runtime that exposes "widget" objects such as text boxes, scrollbars, and other familiar GUI controls to Java developers, but uses JNI to make native code calls to create and interact with those controls. Using SWT, Java developers can build responsive GUI applications that are essentially indistinguishable from native platform GUIs.
That's not to say that SWT applications aren't cross-platform; they are (mostly). There are SWT implementations for Windows (Win32), Windows CE, Motif (Linux, AIX, HP/UX, Solaris), GTK (Linux), and several others. The SWT runtime changes when you run your application on these different operating systems, but as long as your application code uses standard widgets it can run unchanged. (Not all implementations are feature-complete; you can check the current status at Eclipse.org.) Sure, some platforms have widgets and capabilities that others don't have, but all the implementations include a core set of widgets—and programming to the core set from Java is identical across all the platforms.
It's quick, easy and you get access to all the articles on DevX.
This registration/login is to allow you to read articles on devx.com. Already a member?
To become a member of DevX.com create your Member Profile by completing the form below. Membership is free!
he Java world has a new toy called SWT (the Standard Widget Toolkit), created by IBM and integrated with the Eclipse development environment. SWT is a platform-specific runtime that exposes "widget" objects such as text boxes, scrollbars, and other familiar GUI controls to Java developers, but uses JNI to make native code calls to create and interact with those controls. Using SWT, Java developers can build responsive GUI applications that are essentially indistinguishable from native platform GUIs.
