The State of Java Desktop
a day ago
- Java desktop development has improved with jpackage, enabling creation of real installers that bundle a trimmed JRE.
- Local-first applications are gaining relevance again, emphasizing use of local resources and internet resources wisely.
- Four UI toolkits are compared: Swing with FlatLaf, TamboUI (terminal-based), JavaFX, and SWT, each with trade-offs in complexity and platform integration.
- jpackage simplifies distribution by generating platform-specific packages (e.g., RPM, DEB) without requiring users to have Java installed.
- The article provides complete code examples for a todo app using each toolkit, highlighting modern tools like jbang for quick setup.