JavaFX Visual GUI Builder - not using FXML - only based on pure Java

Question

The decision to provide a pure Java based JavaFX API activates the pure Java people who where FXML resistent in the past.
JavaFX is the future ... the last few month when I check the new possibilities I came slowly but surely to this opinion...
The Scene Build is still based on FXML. So ... for the pure Java developer there is no advantage to use it ... only to see what components are available in the JavaFX standard I see no advantage for me to use it. I won't create JavaFX clients based on FXML.
What's the future plan...is there a Project in the World who want to provide a Visual GUI Builder who produce pure Java based JavaFX Code like Eclipse Window Builder do it for Swing or SWT or JBuilder for Swing many years ago.
That's the main reason that JavaFX get successful in the future. A software architect who has to decide using JavaFX as the new Company Standard...will never do it without stomachache.
Do I miss some news?
Is there are NetBeans Version who can do it or a plugin I don't now?
Edited by: 984992 on 30.01.2013 14:24
Edited by: 984992 on 30.01.2013 14:30

Answer 1

I don't think you are getting it, or just making a big deal about it.
Currently SceneBuilder is connected to Netbeans using the FXML. It's not hard at all, nor is there a big issue. In the next few years Scenebuilder will be in Netbeans integrated, so it will be just like the swing gui builder. FX is still new, from a scripting lang, to a super powerful lang. FXML uses so little code.... Also you can do things either with, or without FXML, FXML IS NOT NEEDED IN FX AT ALL, only limited on Scene Builder.
This is the FXML I am using for a dice game I am creating. Not much at all.
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<?import java.lang.*?>
<?import java.util.*?>
<?import javafx.collections.*?>
<?import javafx.scene.chart.*?>
<?import javafx.scene.control.*?>
<?import javafx.scene.image.*?>
<?import javafx.scene.layout.*?>
<?import javafx.scene.paint.*?>
<BorderPane fx:id="border" maxHeight="-Infinity" maxWidth="-Infinity" minHeight="-Infinity" minWidth="-Infinity" prefHeight="785.0" prefWidth="1518.0" xmlns:fx="http://javafx.com/fxml" fx:controller="ZonkController">
<left>
<AnchorPane minHeight="86.0" minWidth="62.0" prefHeight="390.0" prefWidth="768.0">
<children>
<Button fx:id="button" layoutX="126.0" layoutY="90.0" onAction="#handleButtonAction" text="Click Me!" />
<Pane fx:id="pane" layoutX="737.0" prefHeight="390.0" prefWidth="211.0" />
</children>
</AnchorPane>
</left>
<right>
<AnchorPane prefHeight="386.0" prefWidth="460.0">
<children>
<BarChart fx:id="barChart" layoutX="7.0" layoutY="-10.0" prefWidth="460.0">
<xAxis>
<CategoryAxis fx:id="names" side="BOTTOM" />
</xAxis>
<yAxis>
<NumberAxis fx:id="scores" side="LEFT" />
</yAxis>
</BarChart>
</children>
</AnchorPane>
</right>
<top>
<ImageView fx:id="iv" fitHeight="394.24998969072755" fitWidth="525.6666641235352" pickOnBounds="true" preserveRatio="true" BorderPane.alignment="TOP_CENTER" />
</top>
</BorderPane>
It is all codecompleted like a class normally would, so there is nothing to worry about :)
.CSS isn't hard either.