Tackling Actual Problems on the Wings of the Netbeans Platform, Jure Polutnik
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The document discusses the development of Gaea+, a rich client platform built on the NetBeans framework, highlighting its evolution from a flood simulation tool to a sophisticated 3D visualization application. It outlines the advantages of using the NetBeans platform, such as reduced development time and user interface consistency, and compares it with other platforms like Eclipse RCP. Additionally, it mentions challenges faced during integration and the steep learning curve associated with the platform.
Tackling Actual Problems on the Wings of the Netbeans Platform, Jure Polutnik
- 1. Tackling Actual Problems on the Wings of the Netbeans Platform Jure Polutnik
- 2. Agenda Development of Gaea+ Our experience Rich Client Platforms NetBeans Platform & APIs
- 3. About XLAB ● Founded in 2001 ● Employs 42+ experts in Computer Science, Electronics and Mathematics ● Participated in 10+ EU FP project in ICT, 10+ national projects ● Main products: ● ISL Online | Remote Collaboration solutions ● MedicView | Imaging in nuclear medicine, segmentation tools ● Gaea+ | 3D visualisation of realistic geographics environment
- 4. Evolution of Gaea+ ● Virtual globe platform ● Evolved from specialized flood simulation tool ● 2008 Dec – Rleased first version of Gaea+ ● WorldWind Java SDK ● Swing + some additional UI libraries ● 2010 Mar – Released new version of Gaea+ ● NetBeans Rich Client Platform ● Cross platform, extensible, support for I18N ● Standars-complient (WFS, WMS, KML, GPX, SHP, TIFF, OBJ)
- 8. Why we switched to RCP ● Module system ● I18N and L10N ● Distribution ● Development time ● More - Implementing generic functionalities ● Module system ● Window Manager ● Less - Actual bussines logic ● New features
- 9. Rich Client Platform ● A Rich Client Platform is an application lifecycle enviroment, a basis for desktop applications ● Basic blocks: menu, splash-screen, status bar, i18n mechanism, toolbar … ● Advantages ● Reduction in development time ● User interface consistency ● Platform Independency ● Reusability and Reliability
- 10. RCP in Java world Any many more ...
- 11. Swing Application Framework Some basic features ● Application life-cycle ● Support for managing and loading resources ● Support for Actions (defining, managing, biding) ● Basic persistence of session state Does not support ● Branding ● Module system and dependencies ● Window system ● ...
- 12. Spring Rich Client ● Features ● Window system ● Module system ● Input validation, button bars, I18N, image/icon caching, UI threading, progress monitoring … ● But ● The project seems to be dead / put aside ● Release dates: 17.3.2008, 23.6.2009
- 13. Eclipse Rich Client Platform Since 2003 Huge community Plentiful of documentation and examples RCP + many other features Constantly improving Open sourced (Eclipse public license - EPL)
- 14. Eclipse Rich Client v2 Platform Uses SWT Pro • Uses native elements • Supported by Eclipse • Large number of examples Contra • Reusing existing swing code • Requires native libraries for each supported system • Not so platform independent • Management of native reources
- 15. NetBeans Platform Mature platform – since 2001, and has been supported by IDE in 2005 Large community Plentiful of documentation and examples RCP + many other features, Constantly improving Open sourced CDDL and GNU Public License v.2 w/Classpath Exception
- 16. NetBeans Platform v2 Current version (6.9.1) OSGi interoperability Encanhements for Maved-based Netbeans Platform applications Branding editor – L10N of NetBeans platform Generation of native installers Future (6.10) Performance of IDE Better installer support Integration of JavaFX components
- 17. Eclipse RCP vs NetBeans Platform Feature are roughly equivalent Both are probably good choices Depend on exact requirements Our requirement was AWT/Swing • WWJ does not support SWT • Performance dropped for 30%, when integrated AWT Canvas into SWT
- 18. Sketsa SVG Graphics Editor
- 19. NetBeans IDE
- 20. Bluemarine
- 21. Office Look and Feel ● OfficeLAF module - Flamingo ● Platform has not been patched
- 22. Gaea+
- 23. NetBeans Platfrom APIs Module System API Dependencies between module Loading and unloading (in runtime) Version control Classloader system Window System API Drag&Drop Docking and undocking Maximization and minimization (Side bar)
- 24. NetBeans Platfrom v2 APIs Lookup API Intermodule communication (Service Loader) Context sensitivity of windows, nodes and data objects Can be used in your own objects File System API Communication between modules Virtual filesystem (layer.xml)
- 25. NetBeans Platfrom v3 APIs Nodes API Visual representation of underlaying objects Datasystems API Custom file types Actions API Context-sensitive actions, registration in layer.xml Visual Library API Explorer & Property Sheet API ...
- 26. But ... The platform is not the magic stick It will help you create better architecture But you can always do it “your way” Steep learning curve We spent 1 month just for learning and testing the platform And another 2 months for porting Gaea+ to new base
- 27. Jure Polutnik jure.polutnik@xlab.si Thank you for your attention!