Oracle Open Sourcing JavaFX, Including iOS and Android Ports

hypnosec writes "Oracle is going to open source JavaFX ports for Android and iOS soon as a part of its efforts to open source the framework. JavaFX, destined to replace Swing GUI library as the default method to develop graphical user interfaces, is a framework used to develop cross-platform rich Internet applications. The ports for iOS and Android are based on an 'unreleased version of JavaSE Embedded for iOS/Android.' Oracle's Richard Bair revealed that the 'first bits and pieces' for JavaFX for iOS should probably be out sometime next week. The rest of the release will be scheduled along with the release of Prism (the next-generation toolkit). Oracle is going to keep javafx-font proprietary, but Bair has said developers are already working toward an open source native replacement of the component through the OpenJFX list."

Apple says wait a minute...

[Glasswire]

... you can't open source any system level components in an iPhone or iPad without talking to us first!

Re:Define 'soon'

[Threni]

> Since it's Oracle, I have to wonder "what's the catch".

They're trying to trick you into using Java, when everyone is dropping it as fast as they can!

Re:and i care

[Threni]

Let's just focus on Javascript, and leave this other crap outside (flash, activex, java). We don't need it. I try and use a page wihch requires Java on Linux and I get warnings about how IcedTea isn't working. I click on the link to update it, but I get taken to a Wiki page...like I'm going to spend my evening searching for a solution. (It `just works` under Windows). I used to spend a lot of time playing with Linux, but I can't be bothered any more.

Re:"GUI File" is the Future

[characterZer0]

"GUI File" is fine right up until your application gets more complex than a simple login page.

Re:and i care

[SplashMyBandit]

Computing is more than just the Web. Javascript is ok for web stuff. Crap for rich clients with functionality that doesn't work well over the network, usually because the datasets are too big (eg. CAD, GIS, graphics/photography, simulations). There is still an ernomous space for rich client technologies like JavaFX, and JavaFX 2 looks really nice and has some great built in styles and effects. It's also pretty easy to program if you are used to Swing.

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[account_deleted]

Comment removed based on user account deletion

Re:Define 'soon'

[Anonymous Coward]

There are plenty of alternatives if your top priority is not "cheap and plenty developers". Perl, Python, Smalltalk, C++. Yeah, C++ ! A couple of highly skilled C++ developers will create the same functionality at the same total cost (development, testting, maintenance, cost of operations) as the Java folks will deliver.

The only "problem" in the corporate world is that they want "affordable" developers and compromise on everything else. So they save some money on the short run and then pay big dollars/euros on hardware and maintenance afterwards.

I assume the average PHB can't accept that a proper software engineer has the same or higher hourly rate as the PHB himself.