How can I create a “modern looking” Java desktop application?

Question

Similar questions to this are asked periodically, but many of these answers are outdated.

I need to build a cross-platform desktop application in Java with a GUI of comp

Answer 1

I can also offer you a new LaF to look into - WebLaF. I'am currently working on it to bring a lot of UI features and make work with Swing much easier for anyone by just using WebLaF library basic features.

A few examples showing how some of WebLaF components look like:

Some of main goals i am targeting:

1. Great and modern-looking L&F with support for all Swing components
2. An extensive set of additional components which you won't find in standard Swing
3. A big set of Utility classes to assist you with writing the code

WebLaF library also suggests a few other advantages and unique features:

1. It is an open-source project (GPLv3 licensed)
2. Easy components styling using painters system (specifically with 9-patch files)
3. Quick and easy customization of the default "Web" style
4. Lots of features to accelerate and simplify Swing application interface creation

You can try the demo-app to see if it is modern and simple enough :)

Answer 2

What about Nimbus look and feel? Oracle Link Also take a look at SO-Question

Answer 3

Try one of these:

1. JTattoo
2. JGoodies
3. Quaqua

Answer 4

Have you looked into JavaFX 2.0? It is designed to interop easily with Swing, and has many modern 'good looking' controls.

Also, as lrAndroid mentions, a Swing app can look like a native app if you set the system look and feel with:

UIManager.setLookAndFeel(UIManager.getSystemLookAndFeelClassName());

Answer 5

Look into changing the Look and Feel of your Java program. This allows you to customize the overall "theme" of your program. Here is information on changing the LAF.

Answer 6

QT is quite extensive but also very big (bloated) and complex. There is also the SWT library being used by open office for instance. SWT uses native UI widgets for buttons, tables etc where as Swing emulates them.

However, the trend is clearly towards writing rich client applications for the browser using HTML and Javascript. Both of these have made huge strides in the past few years.

HTML5 specifically targets rich client applications with features such as better forms and local database to support disconnected scenarios (note that this last feature is not standardized yet but it is implemented by all latest browsers).

Javascript has now powerful libraries with jQuery and its many plugins. There are even languages like Coffeescript which can be used to produce Javascript with a simpler and more powerful syntax.

There's also no need for such apps to connect to an outside server. Small footprint local servers (eg: jetty, node.js, ...) and databases (SQLite, H2,...) can be installed on the client to make a completely self contained application.