Getting Started With JavaFX Technology Using Eclipse IDE

This article provides some brief information about JavaFX technology. It explains what to download and install to get started using JavaFX technology with the Eclipse IDE. It also describes how to create your first JavaFX application by using the Eclipse IDE, along with the JavaFX SDK and the JavaFX plugin for Eclipse. Information about available sample applications and running applications on a mobile emulator is also included in this article.

What Is JavaFX?

JavaFX is a rich client platform for building cross-device applications and content. Designed to enable easy creation and deployment of rich Internet applications (RIAs) with immersive media and content, the JavaFX platform ensures that RIAs look and behave consistently across diverse form factors and devices.

The JavaFX Software Development Kit (SDK) and the JavaFX Plugin for Eclipse enable you to develop, debug, and deploy JavaFX applications in the Eclipse integrated development environment (IDE).

Read the Develop Expressive Content With JavaFX Platform document to learn more about what JavaFX technology has to offer you.

What to Download and Install

The following components need to be installed on your system prior to developing JavaFX applications in the Eclipse IDE. Note that the JavaFX plugin for Eclipse is available for the Windows and Mac systems, and has Beta support only for the Ubuntu Linux. Before you proceed with the installation, review the JavaFX Plugin for Eclipse Release Notes for system requirements, new features, and known issues and limitations.

1. Download and install JavaFX 1.2.1 SDK.
   
   NOTE that this version of the JavaFX plugin for Eclipse is currently supported using JavaFX 1.2.1 SDK only. You MUST download JavaFX 1.2.1 SDK first and complete the installation by following the JavaFX SDK installation instructions. The JavaFX SDK provides the command-line tools and technologies to develop expressive content for applications deployed to browsers, desktops, and mobile devices.
   
   
2. Ensure that you have downloaded and installed the Eclipse IDE for Java EE Developers.
   
   The Eclipse 3.5 Galileo is the current version. It is recommended that Mac OS Snow Leopard users download and install the 64-bit Cocoa Eclipse IDE for Java EE Developers (Galileo SR1).
   
   The Eclipse IDE provides an integrated development environment for building, debugging, and running Java applications.
   
   
3. Install the current release of JavaFX Plugin for Eclipse.
   
   The plugin provides features that enable you to edit, build, and debug JavaFX applications in Eclipse IDE. The editor features a set of drag-and-drop snippets to quickly add JavaFX objects with transformations, effects, and animation. This plugin also comes with a set of samples that you can learn from and work with as you learn the JavaFX Script language. For more information about what's included with this plugin, read the JavaFX Plugin for Eclipse Release Notes.
   
   Install the current release of JavaFX Plugin for Eclipse by following the appropriate set of instructions:
   
   
   • Using Eclipse 3.5 to install JavaFX plugin for the first time
   • Updating an existing JavaFX plugin installation using Eclipse 3.5
   
   
   Using Eclipse 3.5 to install JavaFX Plugin for the first time:
   
   
   1. Start the Eclipse IDE. Specify a path for your Eclipse workspace folder, if prompted, and close the Welcome screen if it appears.
      
      
   2. From the main menu of the IDE, choose Help > Install New Software.
      
      
   3. Click Add in the Available Software dialog box.
      
      
   4. In the Add Site dialog box, type JavaFX in the Name text field and type http://javafx.com/downloads/eclipse-plugin/ in the Location text field, as shown in Figure 1. Click OK.
      
      

      Figure 1: Adding the JavaFX Plugin Update Site URL With Eclipse 3.5

   5. Select the JavaFX Features checkbox and click Next, as shown in the following figure.
      
      

      Figure 2: Setting Up to Add the JavaFX Plugin Update Site URL With Eclipse 3.5
      

   6. In the Install Details dialog box, review and confirm that the selected JavaFX Feature item is the correct version to be installed. Click Next.
      
      
   7. Review and accept the terms of the license agreement and click Finish.
      
      The IDE continues with the installation of the JavaFX plugin software.
      
      
   8. When prompted to restart the Eclipse Platform, click Yes.
      
      
   Updating an existing JavaFX plugin installation by using Eclipse 3.5:
   
   
   1. Start the Eclipse IDE. Specify a path for your Eclipse workspace folder, if prompted, and close the Welcome screen, if it appears.
      
      
   2. Choose Help > About Eclipse from the main menu of the IDE.
      
      
      
   3. Click Installation Details, as shown in Figure 3.
      
      

      Figure 3: Clicking the link to What Is Already Installed
      

   4. In the Eclipse Installation Details dialog box, select the JavaFX Features in the Installed Software tab and click Update, as shown in the next figure.
      
      

      Figure 4: Updating the JavaFX Plugin Installation
      

      
      The IDE proceeds to check and install the updated version, if available.
      
      
   5. When prompted to restart the Eclipse Platform, click Yes.
      
      
4. Continue with Creating Your First JavaFX Application Using Eclipse IDE tutorial.