JavaFX 101

Is it a case of being in tune with the zeitgeist, or of great minds thinking alike? For whatever reason, Microsoft’s announcement of Silverlight last week at MIX07 was followed by Sun’s announcement of JavaFX this week at JavaOne.

So, what is JavaFX, and why should we care? According to Sun, JavaFX is “a new family of products based on Java technology designed to enable consistent user experiences, from desktop to mobile device to set-top box to Blu-ray Disc.”

To be more specific, Sun says:

• The JavaFX product family leverages the Java platform’s write-once-run-anywhere portability, application security model, ubiquitous distribution and enterprise connectivity
• JavaFX initially is comprised of JavaFX Script and JavaFX Mobile
• JavaFX Script is a highly productive scripting language for content developers to create rich media and interactive content
• JavaFX Mobile, Sun’s software system for mobile devices, is available via OEM license to carriers, handset manufacturers and others seeking a branded relationship with consumers

It feels like déjà vu all over Again, to quote Yogi Berra. I didn’t go to JavaOne this year, or MIX07: the fact is, I rarely go to conferences at all any more. But at one of the early JavaOne conferences that I did attend, Sun announced Java ME, which was going to extend the Java platform down to PDAs and cell phones. I bought a Palm V at the conference that came with an early build of Java ME. The Palm served me well for several years, but I soon lost interest in Java ME.

JavaFX Mobile sounds a lot like what Java ME was supposed to be. For that matter,JavaFX Script sounds a lot like what JavaScript was supposed to be. So what’s new here?

In a word, media. Sun’s headline for JavaFX is “Dynamic Interactive Content on Any Device”. Yes, JavaFX is very much in the spirit of Silverlight and Flash, but of course with a Java-centric twist.

Interesting times…