Sun Microsystems today launched the rich Internet application (RIA) platform JavaFX 1.0.

"The JavaFX developer kit includes compiler and runtime tools, graphics, media, web services and rich text libraries, along with plug-ins for the NetBeans and Eclipse integrated development environments and Adobe Systems' Creative Suite versions 3 and 4," writes VNUnet's David Neal.

"JavaFX won't replace other ways of building Java user interfaces, such as the Java programmer's Swing component set," explains InformationWeek's Charles Babcock. "Instead, it will sit on top of Swing and other Java components to make it easier for designers, content creators, and scripting language users - a less programming literate group than Java Enterprise Edition developers - to build interactive Web applications."

"JavaFX has had a long gestation time, almost 18 months since it was first announced prior to the 2007 JavaOne conference," writes InternetNews' Andy Patrizio. "Part of the reason for the delay was the Java platform needed an overhaul. The recently-released Update 10 went a long way toward making JavaFX possible by making it smaller, faster and more modular."

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