Actually, based on sessions from JavaOne2010, this is what Oracle intends to do with respect to desktop applications.
JavaFX (the API) was, and still is, intended to be a replacement for Swing at some point, although they have a long way to go (even longer now that they are re-implementing everything as a Java API.) The JavaFX stack *is* based on a 3D drawing API, although it's not exactly OpenGL. It's a layer that will abstract differences between Direct3D and OpenGL. Which is an interesting decision in itself. That they intend the new graphics APIs to be based on a 3D framework is a great thing - but they are not writing directly to OpenGL. I believe their reasoning is as follows: 1. Writing to a 3D API will allow better integration between 2D and 3D graphics, and provide for richer desktop applications than is currently possible/easy with Java2D and Swing. 2. They still are fighting the battle to establish Java as a desktop development platform. In doing so, they recognize that the majority of desktops are still going to be some Microsoft Windows variant for years to come. That's how they justify putting in the resources to support Direct3D as the "primary" target for this 3D library. OpenGL is being supported as well, because they like the technology, and it's available for all platforms where Direct3D is not. But it's not their "main" target. Personally, I think they'd simplify their development efforts by just writing to OpenGL. If they realized that Java desktop may really only survive as a niche market, they might have an easier time making this decision. But for now, they see support of Direct3D as the way to stay in the desktop game. In summary, it's very much their intention of replacing the desktop graphics stack with a 3D graphics implementation as the foundation layer. Rob On Nov 10, 2010, at 3:10 PM, Reinier Zwitserloot wrote: > ... and then leave the really native look (which I understand OGL apps > suck at, given that they have to do all the drawing themselves) to > SWT? > > That's actually not a bad idea, though I very much doubt oracle is > going to go for that. > > On Nov 10, 9:52 pm, RogerV <[email protected]> wrote: >> The fact that Ubuntu Linux is going to move away from X-server / X-Lib >> and adopt Wayland OpenGL as its core graphics to render UI: >> >> Ubuntu abandons X server for Wayland >> http://blogs.computerworld.com/17303/ubuntu_abandons_x_server_for_way... >> >> has given me pause in regard to how Java might end up being supported >> on Mac OS X. >> >> Perhaps Apple deprecating Java is a good opportunity for Oracle to >> rethink how to support graphical UI in Java in respect to bequeathing >> Java a viable future of relevancy. >> >> Why not build Java2D, JavaFX, and AWT/Swing all on top of OpenGL as >> the primary foundation? >> >> That way a single implementation can span all operating system >> platforms: >> >> Linux, BSD, Unix, Solaris, Mac OS X, and Windows >> >> There's even a push to provide a standard API for browser-based >> software (i.e., JavaScript) to access OpenGL. A Java plugin for >> browsers could leverage the same. >> >> The porting task for the Java presentation layer now becomes merely a >> matter of implementing JOGL (Java Binding for the OpenGL API) on a >> target platform. The rest of its presentation stack comes >> automatically due to being built on top of JOGL. >> >> Obviously Java2D is a subset of 3D OpenGL, but if Ubuntu is going to >> move this way, then surely Java can too. >> >> Plus, it means a graphical shell can be written that applies really >> cool 3D transformation effects even against apps that were written to >> just a 2D abstraction. Move over genie effect! -- 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.
