SwingLabs

swingLabs is a Sun open source project proposing extensions to the Java Swing GUI toolkit. Available components include:

• Sorting, filtering, highlighting for tables, trees, and lists
• Find/search
• Auto-completion
• Login/authentication framework
• TreeTable component
• Collapsible panel component
• Date picker component
• Tip of the day component

The aim of the project is to experiment new or enhanced GUI functionalities that are required by Rich client applications. It acts as a testbed for ideas related to client side technologies.

Integration into Java API

Successful project components are eventually incorporated into the core Swing toolkit for future Java versions, although API compatibility is not guaranteed. Examples of these are:

• the GroupLayout manager in Java SE 6^[1].
• incorporation of the SystemTray in Java SE 6.
• the new Desktop class in Java SE 6, which allows to launch easily associated applications registered on the native desktop, as for example : launching the user-default browser, launching the user-default mail client, launching a registered application to open, edit or print a specified file.

Sub-projects

The swingLabs project is divided into several sub-projects. For example :

• swingX: Provides extensions to the Java Swing GUI toolkit.
• JDIC (JDesktop Integration Components): Aims to provide Java applications with seamless desktop integration without sacrificing platform independence.
• nimbus: A Look and feel using synth.
• swingLayout: Was the home of the GroupLayout manager before its inclusion in Java SE 6.
• JDNC: Contained components to simplify the development of Swing-based rich client Java applications. This project has been replaced by the Swing Application Framework (JSR 296).
• scenegraph: A library providing 2D Scene graph functionality to Java 2D, including Swing widgets. This library is used internally by the JavaFX Script language.
• PDFRenderer: A PDF viewing library written in pure Java.

See also

• SwingWorker

References

1. ^ GroupLayout was initially developed in conjunction with Matisse, the GUI builder of NetBeans.

External links

• swingLabs project home page
• swingx project home page
• swingx project tutorials and documents
• swingx 0.7 version javadoc