Open Sourcing JavaFX

At the moment JavaFX has been partially open sourced with the compiler and parts of the platform API. There are some key parts like the JavaFX runtime that haven't been open sourced yet. Oracle have not mentioned what their plans are for open sourcing JavaFX. Have the open source efforts with JavaFX grounded to a halt, or is there some change with the plans that Oracle have not announced yet? From what I have been able to discover so far there isn't enough of JavaFX being open sourced (with the open source distribution) to make it useful unless the official JavaFX distribution is used.

It is surprising to see that that there isn't more of the platform API being open sourced. Many parts of the API are not encumbered with patents/copyright, and other possible legal issues. Why is there not more of the platform API being open sourced already? To make matters worse the JavaFX runtime cannot be freely distributed with a JavaFX application (eg bundled in a zip file). If a developer wishes to bundle the runtime with the application because the client doesn't have access to the Internet, then they are forced to use an alternative technology.

Somehow it is extremely silly that a developer is forced to use an alternative technology because of a licensing issue with distribution of the runtime. As a result this means that JavaFX cannot be considered to be truly open sourced since the licensing is not technology neutral. Many people have complained bitterly about the runtime bundling issue (“Allow us to distribute the JavaFX runtime binary”), which comes as no surprise since it is currently 3rd in the JavaFX Feedback forum. Which begs the question what is Oracle's attitude towards open source? How are Oracle going to resolve the licensing issue with bundling the runtime?

If Oracle are serious about furthering the efforts to open source JavaFX then they should have discussions with Google for the following reasons:

• Obtain experience from Google on using a non restrictive license that promotes the use of technology (in this case JavaFX)
• Get JavaFX onto Android devices on the mobile side since this will allow JavaFX to be more easily adopted onto other mobile platforms
• Gain insights into increasing the acceptance of JavaFX with the open source community and on major open source platforms in general (eg Linux, Android)
  

JFX Blocks (GUI) 0.2 Released

JFX Blocks (GUI) 0.2 has been released on Kenai. This is the result of the challenge I had assigned to myself, which is to create 10 JavaFX controls (non-visual/visual) within a month. I can definitely say I have met the challenge. JFX Blocks (GUI) release contains the following controls (non-visual and visual):

• Anchor
• Navigator (Known as NavigatorBlock)
• Split View
• Button Bar
• Image Button
• Navigator Bar
• Slide View
• Status Bar
• Ticker
• Toolbar

Do note that this release like JFX Blocks (Core) has not been tested on the mobile side. Currently the look for each control has not yet been finalised since I am trying to work out how to provide a consistent look across both mobile and desktop, if possible. Hence the controls do not have a very polished look as they are very much a work in progress.

Oracle's Intentions With JavaFX

After Oracle made announcements of their various strategies it is a good step in the right direction. Especially when they announced that they “will invest heavily in JavaFX”. However Oracle have not mentioned a single word on what they plan to do with JavaFX Script. Will some of Oracle's investment include further developing JavaFX Script?

Many people that have reviewed JavaFX have often cited JavaFX Script as one of the major strengths of the JavaFX platform. Currently Oracle have not revealed if they intend to further develop JavaFX Script, and if so what improvements will be made. If Oracle is serious about supporting JavaFX (especially in their own business) then when will they start migrating all of their Flash/Flex applications to JavaFX?

What hasn't been mentioned by Oracle is their roadmap for JavaFX. At the moment nothing concrete has been revealed about the long term plans for JavaFX so that the community knows exactly where it is heading. Hopefully under Oracle's watch they will do a good job of covering what is currently happening with JavaFX on a reasonably regular basis, which does not leave the community almost completely in the dark. Although it is understandable that Oracle have not delved too much into the details surely additional information could have been provided.

Although this may sound like a crazy idea Oracle should consider buying RIM. Not much momentum is expected with this although I could be proven wrong about it, we will have to wait and see. JavaFX needs a proper mobile hardware platform to show what it can really offer to businesses and mobile developers. If Oracle were to purchase RIM they would benefit by:

• Having a missing part that will make the solution even more complete (can provide mobile hardware – via Blackberry smart phones), unification
• Being able to provide an optimal JavaFX experience (for users) by being able to tweak the hardware to run JavaFX mobile applications very well
• Accessing additional markets that RIM are currently involved in like government, business professionals, consumers
• Being able to deliver unique mobile solutions that not only cover software but also the hardware
• The increased adoption of JavaFX on mobile platforms with providing an official mobile hardware platform where JavaFX mobile applications work very well

Clearly from Oracle's strategy with JavaFX they know the technology very well, and are mostly heading in the right direction with it. However Oracle need to provide safe multi-threading (concurrent programming) capabilities for JavaFX Script, and bolster the JavaFX APIs with support for a wider range of UI technologies (eg touch screens, 3D graphics). On the official Customer Feedback And Ideas For JavaFX forum these are the top ten feedback/ideas (ordered by rank):

1. Create more native components, like form items, grids and menus
2. Quick application startup
3. Allow us to distribute the JavaFX runtime binary
4. More JavaFX Runtime Ports, Windows Mobile/CE, Symbian, BlackBerry, Ubuntu on ARM, Chrome OS, Maemo
5. Thread-safe JavaFX
6. 3D support
7. Multi-touch capabilities
8. A full featured editor for editing Animations, UI
9. Table widget with sorting, scrolling etc
10. HTML renderer