Some years ago development of Java Desktop applications was easy: We just downloaded Java 8 from Oracle and got a set of useful tools and framework to develop Java desktop applications: AWT & Swing WebStart JavaFX JFX Packager If you now download a Java version from Oracle (or any other vendor) several of the mentioned tools and frameworks are gone. Some JDKs only contain AWT & Swing for desktop development and miss all the newer tools. But even if they include such tools or frameworks you have sometimes no idea about their state. In this session I will give an overview about the differences between JDKs that you can use today and how frameworks like JavaFX are really supported by the vendors. Next to this we will have a look at all the tools that are important for building and installing desktop development. Since some like WebStart are gone you can find quite good alternatives.

1. @HendrikEbbers
Karakun DevHub_
dev.karakun.com

2. @HendrikEbbers
2019
Java Desktop

3. Karakun DevHub_
@HendrikEbbersdev.karakun.com
About me
• Karakun Co-Founder
• Founder of JUG Dortmund
• JSR EG member
• JavaOne Rockstar, Java Champion
• AdoptOpenJDK TSC member

4. Karakun DevHub_
@HendrikEbbersdev.karakun.com
About me

5. @HendrikEbbers
2019
Java Desktop

6. @HendrikEbbers
OMG!!!!!!
Java Desktop

7. Karakun DevHub_
@HendrikEbbersdev.karakun.com
Content
• Desktop Apps today
• The Oracle Java client roadmap
• Webstart, Applets, Swing & AWT, jpackager
• JavaFX

8. @HendrikEbbers
Desktop Apps

9. Karakun DevHub_
@HendrikEbbersdev.karakun.com
Desktop Apps
App
build

10. Karakun DevHub_
@HendrikEbbersdev.karakun.com
Desktop Apps
App
build Install

11. Karakun DevHub_
@HendrikEbbersdev.karakun.com
Desktop Apps
Application
Build Tools
App
build Install

12. Karakun DevHub_
@HendrikEbbersdev.karakun.com
Desktop Apps
Runtime
UI Toolkit
3rdParty libs
Application
Build Tools
App
build Install

13. Karakun DevHub_
@HendrikEbbersdev.karakun.com
Desktop Apps
Runtime
UI Toolkit
3rdParty libs
Application
Build Tools
update
update
update
update
App
build Install

14. Karakun DevHub_
@HendrikEbbersdev.karakun.com
Desktop Apps
Runtime
UI Toolkit
3rdParty libs
Application
Build Tools
update
update
update
update
App
build Install

15. Karakun DevHub_
@HendrikEbbersdev.karakun.com
Desktop Apps
Runtime
UI Toolkit
3rdParty libs
Application
Build Tools
update
update
update
update
App
build Install

16. Karakun DevHub_
@HendrikEbbersdev.karakun.com
Java Desktop Apps 2016
Oracle Java 8
3rdParty libs
Application
Build Tools
update
update
update
App
build Install

17. @HendrikEbbers
I just downloaded
Java 8 from Oracle

18. Karakun DevHub_
@HendrikEbbersdev.karakun.com
Java Desktop Apps today
Java 8 / 11+
Java FX 8 / 11+
3rdParty libs
Application
Build Tools
update
update
update
update
App
build Install

19. Karakun DevHub_
@HendrikEbbersdev.karakun.com
Java Desktop Apps today
Java 8 / 11+
Java FX 8 / 11+
3rdParty libs
Application
Build Tools
update
update
update
update
App
build Install

20. Karakun DevHub_
@HendrikEbbersdev.karakun.com
Java Desktop Apps today
Java 8 / 11+
Java FX 8 / 11+
3rdParty libs
Application
Build Tools
update
update
update
update
App
build Install

21. Karakun DevHub_
@HendrikEbbersdev.karakun.com
Java Desktop Apps today
Java 8 / 11+
Java FX 8 / 11+
3rdParty libs
Application
Build Tools
update
update
update
update
App
build Install

22. Karakun DevHub_
@HendrikEbbersdev.karakun.com
Java Desktop Apps today
Java 8 / 11+
Java FX 8 / 11+
3rdParty libs
Application
Build Tools
update
update
update
update
App
build Install

23. Karakun DevHub_
@HendrikEbbersdev.karakun.com
Java Desktop Apps today
Java 8 / 11+
Java FX 8 / 11+
3rdParty libs
Application
Build Tools
update
update
update
update
App
build Install

24. Karakun DevHub_
@HendrikEbbersdev.karakun.com
Java Desktop Apps today
Java 8 / 11+
Java FX 8 / 11+
3rdParty libs
Application
Build Tools
update
update
update
update
App
build Install

25. Karakun DevHub_
@HendrikEbbersdev.karakun.com
Java Desktop Apps today
Java 8 / 11+
Java FX 8 / 11+
3rdParty libs
Application
Build Tools
update
update
update
update
App
build Install

26. Karakun DevHub_
@HendrikEbbersdev.karakun.com
Java Desktop Apps today
Java 8 / 11+
Java FX 8 / 11+
3rdParty libs
Application
Build Tools
update
update
update
update
App
build Install

27. Karakun DevHub_
@HendrikEbbersdev.karakun.com
Java Desktop Apps today
Java 8 / 11+
Java FX 8 / 11+
3rdParty libs
Application
Build Tools
update
update
update
update
App
build Install

28. @HendrikEbbers
I just want my
"Ask Toolbar Installer"
back!

29. @HendrikEbbers
What has suddenly
changed?

30. @HendrikEbbers
Java (Desktop)
Roadmap

31. Karakun DevHub_
@HendrikEbbersdev.karakun.com
Oracle Java Desktop Roadmap
• Oracle announced a roadmap for Java on desktop
last year (in March 2018)
https://bit.ly/2JiwELG

32. Karakun DevHub_
@HendrikEbbersdev.karakun.com
Oracle Java Desktop Roadmap
"The application development market has shifted dramatically
over the past decade…
To address these requirements, Oracle proposed to shift Java
to a strict time-based release model, …
These changes create an opportunity to simplify and focus the
client roadmap going forward."

33. Karakun DevHub_
@HendrikEbbersdev.karakun.com
Oracle Java Desktop Roadmap
Java 9
Java 10
Java 11
Java 12
Java 13
Java 14
2018 2019 2020
Free
Oracle OpenJDK

34. Karakun DevHub_
@HendrikEbbersdev.karakun.com
Oracle Java Desktop Roadmap
Java 9
Java 10
Java 11
Java 12
Java 13
Java 14
2018 2019 2020
Java 8
Free
Commercial
Not Free in Prod
Oracle JDK

35. Karakun DevHub_
@HendrikEbbersdev.karakun.com
Oracle Java Desktop Roadmap
"The application development market has shifted dramatically
over the past decade…
To address these requirements, Oracle proposed to shift Java
to a strict time-based release model, …
These changes create an opportunity to simplify and focus the
client roadmap going forward."

36. Karakun DevHub_
@HendrikEbbersdev.karakun.com
Oracle Java Desktop Roadmap
"Swing and AWT will continue to be supported on
Java SE 8 through at least March 2025, and on Java
SE 11 (18.9 LTS) through at least September 2026."

37. Karakun DevHub_
@HendrikEbbersdev.karakun.com
Oracle Java Desktop Roadmap
"Oracle will continue to commercially support Java
Web Start on Java SE 8 for commercial use, or when
used in conjunction with Oracle products that have a
Web Start dependency, through at least March 2025"

38. Karakun DevHub_
@HendrikEbbersdev.karakun.com
Oracle Java Desktop Roadmap
"JavaFX new fixes will continue to be supported on
Java SE 8 through March 2022 and removed from
Java SE 11."

39. Karakun DevHub_
@HendrikEbbersdev.karakun.com
Oracle Java Desktop Roadmap
• Swing will be supported in future (commercial)
Java 8 and 11 updates
• We have no idea what will happen to Swing in
future Java LTS versions

40. Karakun DevHub_
@HendrikEbbersdev.karakun.com
Oracle Java Desktop Roadmap
• WebStart will be supported in future (commercial)
Java 8 updates
• WebStart is removed in Java 11

41. Karakun DevHub_
@HendrikEbbersdev.karakun.com
Oracle Java Desktop Roadmap
• JavaFX will be supported in future commercial Java
8 updates
• JavaFX is removed in Java 11

42. Karakun DevHub_
@HendrikEbbersdev.karakun.com
Oracle Java Desktop Roadmap
"Oracle has begun conversations with interested
parties in the Java ecosystem on the stewardship of
JavaFX, Swing and AWT beyond the above
referenced timeframes."

43. @HendrikEbbers
Java is not "only Oracle"
anymore

44. @HendrikEbbers
AWT & Swing

45. @HendrikEbbers
AWT & Swing

46. Karakun DevHub_
@HendrikEbbersdev.karakun.com
Swing & AWT
• Swing and AWT won't used for new projects
anymore
• Stable APIs and no new features needed

47. Karakun DevHub_
@HendrikEbbersdev.karakun.com
Swing & AWT
• But: the private API will change from time to time
• Replace native rendering engine based on os
changes
• Toolkits need support in future
• Who will do that???

48. @HendrikEbbers
JavaApplets

49. @HendrikEbbers
JavaApplets

50. @HendrikEbbers
JavaWebStart

51. Karakun DevHub_
@HendrikEbbersdev.karakun.com
Webstart History
2000
JSR 56
Approval
2002
WebStart is
shipped with
Java 1.4

52. Karakun DevHub_
@HendrikEbbersdev.karakun.com
Webstart History
2000
JSR 56
Approval
2002
WebStart is
shipped with
Java 1.4
2016
Development
of Java 9
started

53. Karakun DevHub_
@HendrikEbbersdev.karakun.com
History

54. Karakun DevHub_
@HendrikEbbersdev.karakun.com
History
"Developers of applications that rely on the Java browser plugin
need to consider alternative options such as migrating from Java Applets
(which rely on a browser plugin) to the plugin-free Java Web Start technology."
Oracle, 2016

55. Karakun DevHub_
@HendrikEbbersdev.karakun.com
Webstart History
2000
JSR 56
Approval
2002
WebStart is
shipped with
Java 1.4
2016
Development
of Java 9
started
"Migrate to
WebStart"

56. Karakun DevHub_
@HendrikEbbersdev.karakun.com
Webstart History
2000
JSR 56
Approval
2002
WebStart is
shipped with
Java 1.4
2016
Development
of Java 9
started
"Migrate to
WebStart"
Spring
2018
WebStart will
be removed
in future

57. Karakun DevHub_
@HendrikEbbersdev.karakun.com
Webstart History
2000
JSR 56
Approval
2002
WebStart is
shipped with
Java 1.4
2016
Development
of Java 9
started
"Migrate to
WebStart"
Spring
2018
Autumn
2018
WebStart will
be removed
in future

58. @HendrikEbbers
Java is open source!
I don't care

59. @HendrikEbbers
Oracle Java != OpenJDK

60. Karakun DevHub_
@HendrikEbbersdev.karakun.com
Oracle JDK & OpenJDK
OpenJDK 8
JVM, tools, etc. JVM, tools, etc.
Exclusive Oracle
stuff
eg. Flight recorder
WebStart
Mission Control
Oracle JDK 8

61. Karakun DevHub_
@HendrikEbbersdev.karakun.com
Oracle JDK & OpenJDK
OpenJDK 12 Oracle JDK 12
JVM, tools, etc.
equals JVM, tools, etc.

62. Karakun DevHub_
@HendrikEbbersdev.karakun.com
AdoptOpenJDK to the rescue!

63. Karakun DevHub_
@HendrikEbbersdev.karakun.com
AdoptOpenJDK to the rescue!

64. @HendrikEbbers
OpenWebStart

65. Karakun DevHub_
@HendrikEbbersdev.karakun.com
OpenWebStart
• Open source implementation of the JNLP Spec
• Based on IcedTeaWeb from RedHat

66. Karakun DevHub_
@HendrikEbbersdev.karakun.com
OpenWebStart
• Adds modern functionality to WebStart
• JVM manager integrated
WebStart Java 11.0.1 Java 11.0.2 Java 12.0.1
manage

67. @HendrikEbbers
openwebstart.com

68. @HendrikEbbers
Java Packaging Tool

69. Karakun DevHub_
@HendrikEbbersdev.karakun.com
jpackage
• Build native executables for your application
• Supports jlink
• You can use it today (with hacks)
• Beta in Java 14 & 15

70. Karakun DevHub_
@HendrikEbbersdev.karakun.com
Java Packaging Tool
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JWwlGWlgxe0

71. Karakun DevHub_
@HendrikEbbersdev.karakun.com
Alternative

72. @HendrikEbbers
JavaFX

73. Karakun DevHub_
@HendrikEbbersdev.karakun.com
JavaFX today
• You can use JavaFX today without any problems

74. Karakun DevHub_
@HendrikEbbersdev.karakun.com
JavaFX today
• You can use JavaFX today without any problems
• Since it is "just software" bugs will pop up over
time

75. Karakun DevHub_
@HendrikEbbersdev.karakun.com
JavaFX today
• You can use JavaFX today without any problems
• Since it is "just software" bugs will pop up over
time
• … and security issues

76. Karakun DevHub_
@HendrikEbbersdev.karakun.com
JavaFX today
• You can use JavaFX today without any problems
• Since it is "just software" bugs will pop up over
time
• … and security issues
• … and private API / native code must be changed

77. Karakun DevHub_
@HendrikEbbersdev.karakun.com
JavaFX today
• Such issues must be targeted in future and LTS
versions
• Currently companies provides LTS support for
JavaFX 8 and 11

78. @HendrikEbbers
What version of
JavaFX are you
using?

79. Karakun DevHub_
@HendrikEbbersdev.karakun.com
JavaFX support - Azul
https://docs.azul.com/zulu/zulurelnotes/ZuluReleaseNotes/CVE_Fixes_November19.htm

80. Karakun DevHub_
@HendrikEbbersdev.karakun.com
JavaFX support - Oracle
https://bugs.openjdk.java.net/

81. Karakun DevHub_
@HendrikEbbersdev.karakun.com
JavaFX support - Gluon
https://github.com/openjdk/jfx/blob/master/doc-files/release-notes-11.md

82. Karakun DevHub_
@HendrikEbbersdev.karakun.com
JavaFX support - Bellsoft
https://bell-sw.com/pages/liberica-release-notes-11.0.5/

83. Karakun DevHub_
@HendrikEbbersdev.karakun.com
JavaFX 8 Issues
JDK-8215702
JDK-8215799
JDK-8213806
JDK-8218611
JDK-8217942
JDK-8207772
SVG gradients are not rendered
Complex text is not rendered by webkit on Windows
WebView - JVM crashes for given HTML
fast/xslt tests fails with "Unsupported encoding windows-1251" error
Upgrade to libxslt 1.1.33
File API and FileReader should be supported in WebView

84. Karakun DevHub_
@HendrikEbbersdev.karakun.com
JavaFX 8 Issues
Azul ZuluOracle JDK Amazon CorrettoGluon JavaFX
JDK-8215702
Bellsoft
JDK-8215799
JDK-8213806
JDK-8218611
JDK-8217942
JDK-8207772

85. Karakun DevHub_
@HendrikEbbersdev.karakun.com
JavaFX 8 @ AdoptOpenJDK
• We got often asked why we do not add JavaFX to
the Java 8 binaries
• We only want to provide secure / up-to-date
binaries
• There is not open source JavaFX 8 development

86. Karakun DevHub_
@HendrikEbbersdev.karakun.com
JavaFX 11 Issues
Azul ZuluOracle JDK Amazon CorrettoGluon JavaFX
JDK-8229328
Bellsoft
JDK-8222912
JDK-8133841
JDK-8218611
JDK-8217942
JDK-8207772
V12/13
v12/13
v12/13
v12/13
v12/13
v12/13
V11
V11
V11
V11
V11
V11

87. Karakun DevHub_
@HendrikEbbersdev.karakun.com
JavaFX 11+
• When using Java(FX) 11+ you should add JavaFX as
a dependency
• Using a JVM with integrated JavaFX is not the
preferred solution

88. Karakun DevHub_
@HendrikEbbersdev.karakun.com
JavaFX 11+
• Maybe Oracle is only interested in JavaFX until the
LTS support of Java 8 ends
• Today Oracle needs to contribute to JavaFX (based
on the commercial support for Java 8)

89. Karakun DevHub_
@HendrikEbbersdev.karakun.com
JavaFX 11+ binaries
JavaFX 11.0.1
JavaFX 12.0.1
JavaFX 12.0.2
JavaFX 11.0.2
JavaFX 13.0.1
JavaFX 13.0.2
JavaFX 14

90. Karakun DevHub_
@HendrikEbbersdev.karakun.com
JavaFX 11+ binaries
JavaFX 11.0.1
JavaFX 12.0.1
JavaFX 12.0.2
JavaFX 11.0.2 JavaFX 11.0.3 JavaFX 11.0.4 JavaFX 11.0.5
JavaFX 13.0.1
JavaFX 13.0.2
JavaFX 14
LTS LTS LTS
backported

91. Karakun DevHub_
@HendrikEbbersdev.karakun.com
JavaFX 11+ sources
JavaFX 11.0.1 JavaFX 11.0.2 JavaFX 11.0.3 JavaFX 11.0.4 JavaFX 11.0.5
JavaFX 12.0.1
JavaFX 12.0.2 JavaFX 13.0.1
JavaFX 13.0.2
JavaFX 14

92. @HendrikEbbers
Kudos to

93. Karakun DevHub_
@HendrikEbbersdev.karakun.com
JavaFX 14+
• There is a good chance that JavaFX 14 will run with
Java 11
• No one knows if JavaFX 15 will still be compatible

94. Karakun DevHub_
@HendrikEbbersdev.karakun.com
JavaFX 14+
• If you want to stay on Java 11 you will need to pay
in future

95. Karakun DevHub_
@HendrikEbbersdev.karakun.com
JavaFX 14+
• If you want to stay on Java 11 you will need to pay
in future
• … or build JavaFX 11 on your own

96. Karakun DevHub_
@HendrikEbbersdev.karakun.com
JavaFX 14+
• If you want to stay on Java 11 you will need to pay
in future
• … or build JavaFX 11 on your own
• … or stay on an old version

97. Karakun DevHub_
@HendrikEbbersdev.karakun.com
JavaFX 14+
• If you want to stay on Java 11 you will need to pay
in future
• … or build JavaFX 11 on your own
• … or stay on an old version
• … or do a fork

98. Karakun DevHub_
@HendrikEbbersdev.karakun.com
JavaFX 14+
• If you want to stay on Java 11 you will need to pay
in future
• … or build JavaFX 11 on your own
• … or stay on an old version
• … or do a fork

99. @HendrikEbbers

100. Karakun DevHub_
@HendrikEbbersdev.karakun.com
JavaFX 14+
• Best: buy commercial support today
• … no downgrade from JavaFX 14 to 11 needed in
future
• … your money will help to fix issues today

101. @HendrikEbbers
If companies do not care
JavaFX will go away!

102. @HendrikEbbers
Homework

103. Karakun DevHub_
@HendrikEbbersdev.karakun.com
Homework
• Is my company interested in the future of JavaFX?
• Is my company interested in the future of Java
Desktop?

104. @HendrikEbbers
Thanks!
Questions?

105. @HendrikEbbers
• Check our website for developers
• Subscribe to our newsletter
dev.karakun.com | @HendrikEbbers
Karakun DevHub_
dev.karakun.com
https://dev.karakun.com
https://dev.karakun.com/subscribe/