wow^-^

• An up-to-date Java SE Development Kit (JDK)
• Access to accurate, up-to-date information
• The JavaFX Script plugin for your integrated development environment (IDE)

Setting Up the Java Platform

As a developer, you no doubt have a JDK on your system. However, if you haven’t updated your system in a while, make sure you have Java SE 6. The Learning Curve Journal focuses on the compiler-based version of JavaFX Script and its support in NetBeans IDE 6.1. To install and use NetBeans IDE 6.1 with JavaFX technology, it is recommended that you install the latest level of Java SE 6 on your system, which currently is Java SE 6 Update 10 Beta. Download the latest JDK from the Java SE Downloads page of the Sun Developer Network. If you use Mac OS X, you can get Apple’s latest release of the Java platform development kit, which currently is Java for Mac OS X 10.5, Update 1, directly from their Java section of the Apple Developer Connection.

Going to the Source

When you experiment with a new environment or language, you’re going to hit dead ends and difficult places. That’s part of the deal we all make when we adopt leading-edge technology. However, to smooth the learning curve, good documentation and examples are absolutely critical. Along with the JavaFX Technology hub of the Sun Developer Network, the javafx.com and Project OpenJFX web sites provide demo resources and the latest documentation you need to get accurate information.

Some of you will want to start programming immediately, barely reading a word of the language reference. Others of you will read everything you can before actually using JavaFX Script. Even if you’re the type that dives in right away, you have to start with some sort of language specification or tutorial. Before you can scribble out the prototypical “Hello, world” example, you need to know some basic language syntax. The documents on the JavaFX Reference page are a good place to start. You can find links there to reference documents such as the The JavaFX Script Programming Language Reference as well as links to many articles and tutorials such as Getting Started With JavaFX Technology and Creating A Simple JavaFX Application Using NetBeans IDE.

Creating a JavaFX Application

After you’ve read at least some of the language reference document, it’s time to build a simple JavaFX application. Although you can build and run a JavaFX application manually from a command line, let’s do it using NetBeans IDE 6.1, which has many features designed to simplify developing applications. You will need to install the JavaFX plugin for NetBeans.

If you don’t have NetBeans IDE 6.1 installed, you can download NetBeans IDE 6.1 with JavaFX, a single installation package that contains NetBeans IDE 6.1 and the JavaFX plugin for NetBeans. If you already have NetBeans IDE 6.1 installed, you can add JavaFX technology support by installing the JavaFX plugin in the NetBeans update center. The JavaFX plugin for NetBeans is currently available for Windows and Mac OS/X environments. Installing the JavaFX plugin allows you to use NetBeans IDE 6.1 to create, test, debug, and deploy applications written in the compiler-based version of JavaFX Script. The plugin enhances editor and project support to include JavaFX Script files. It also provides the core libraries for the script engine and its libraries.