JavaFX in Action

JavaFX in Action

Author: Simon Morris
Publisher: Manning, 2009
Pages: 375

ISBN: 978-1933988993
Aimed at: Beginners with Java FX
Rating: 4
Pros: A good book on Java FX 1.2
Cons: Not future-proof as Java FX changing
Reviewed by: Ian Elliot

If you are planing to use Java FX in the near future this is a good book but in the longer term?

Author: Simon Morris
Publisher: Manning, 2009
Pages: 375

ISBN: 978-1933988993
Aimed at: Beginners with Java FX
Rating: 4
Pros: A good book on Java FX 1.2
Cons: Not future-proof as Java FX changing
Reviewed by: Ian Elliot

This is a nice book spoiled by the technology it covers. JavaFX is in a state of limbo in the sense that the fundamental way of using JavaFX Script is to be dropped. The next version of JavaFX, i.e. 2.0 which should be available sometime in mid 2011, will provide a Java API and discontinue JavaFX Script. As this and most other JavaFX books are based around the use of JavaFX Script this makes them less than future-proof.

At best all you can say is that reading JavaFX in Action you can get a background feel for JavaFX - how to us it and what it can do. Of course you can still try out all of the examples and continue to develop using JavaFX Script as the book shows you how to but at the end of the day you know that you are going to have to re-learn and reimplement it all when JavaFX 2.0 makes the discontinuous change.

The sad part is that this is as good a book as you could wish for on JavaFX 1.2. It covers the basics JavaFX script, 3D, video, controls, web services, creating an applet, graphics on mobile phones, and using JavaFX from Java.

It may be a good book but the turmoil in the JavaFX world means that unless you want to get ahead with version 1.2. it would be better to wait until after version 2.0 was released.

Last Updated ( Tuesday, 26 October 2010 )