I would actually reverse the question. Why do you want to lock yourself into one operating system only when you can run on a whole bunch provided all the stuff you needs exists in Java (quite likely unless you have some Windows legacy that pin you down to Windows).
If you are stuck with Windows but want to use Java there are a couple of integrations with COM and friends possible but you are putting yourself into a land of pain.. manfred On Tue, 20 Jan 2009 05:07:00 -0800 (PST), "[email protected]" <[email protected]> wrote: > > Hi Alan, > > It sounds like you are targeting the Windows platform only and you > need tight integration into that platform, so I guess the obvious > question no-one has asked yet is why do you want to create a Java > application and not a native one? Understanding your motives for using > Java would help ensure you get the right advice (right tool for the > job and all that)! > > Cheers, > > Craig. > > > On Jan 20, 8:34 am, Steven Herod <[email protected]> wrote: >> I think deploying a Windows application on Window's often isn't that >> easy :o) Once you get into deploying data access stuff and so on you >> wind up nearly having to upgrade the users PC. At least a java app >> is (almost) an unzip the files and go thing (once that pesky JRE is >> installed). >> >> Eclipse RCP goes along way towards giving a native experience with >> lots of value add services, but its a pretty hefty elephant to tackle. >> >> JavaFX isn't going to help you, not for doing a traditional desktop >> app, it has little in the way of layout managers, data entry controls >> (they are just wrapped Swing controls - and even then, not all of >> them), and is mainly aimed at graphical stuff (I know, I've been >> building a Twitter client in JavaFX for the past 5 weeks). >> >> For doing alot of the plumbing on installation, check out Advanced >> Installer by Caphyon(?), it will turn a java app into a .exe, create >> shorts cuts, install services, and deploy a JRE. It also has a >> command line executable you can script into your builds. And its >> relatively inexpensive (for a company to purchase). >> >> On Jan 20, 3:18 pm, Alan Kent <[email protected]> wrote: >> >> > While no Java 7, there has been lots of new stuff like Java update 10, >> > the new applet plug-in, the new deployment options, JavaFX and so on. > >> > From what I understand is available, I think I still cannot do a > good >> > native Windows application easily in Java alone. For example: >> >> > * I want some part of the code to start up when the machine > reboots >> > (a background service - no UI) >> > * I want to access some C/C++ APIs exposed via DLLs (is JNI > still >> > the solution of choice here? Do signed DLLs help with > deployment >> > options?) >> > * I want to use Java - do I need to supply a JRE or is there a >> > standard way to find (and require) a locally installed one of > a >> > particular release level? >> >> > I think the real challenge is doing all of the above at the same time. >> >> > My understanding is I can (probably): >> >> > * Use the new deployment stuff (JNLP?) to get my Java code onto > the >> > desktop, requiring a certain JRE level be available and in my > path >> > * Use JNI to talk to native platform DLLs, then sign a JNI > packaged >> > bundle to allow it to be downloaded and run via the above >> > deployment option >> > * Use something like 'Wrapper' to allow my program to start up > at >> > machine reboot >> >> > It just is not yet clear I can easily develop and write an entire >> > Windows application purely in Java without having to worry about lots > of >> > plumbing. I want some code running at machine reboot in the > background, >> > and some code when the user runs a program (with a pretty UI on the >> > front). Does JavaFX enable complete desktop Java applications to be >> > developed and deployed in practice? (I think the need to talk to > some >> > DLLs adds a real problem here - and yes, it is mandatory to the >> > application I am looking at.) >> >> > Currently I am thinking I probably need a EXE to wrap the Java > program, >> > with a standard Windows installer as a result. So if you want to > write >> > a Windows application integrating with the OS reasonably well, you >> > cannot just write Java code - you have to do more. I am hoping I am > wrong! >> >> > Thanks! >> > Alan > --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "The Java Posse" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected] To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected] For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/javaposse?hl=en -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
