This edition of The Java™ Tutorial tells you how to write GUIs that use the Java Foundation Classes (JFC) “Swing” components. In this book we cover the most recent release of the Java 2 platform (v1.4.2 as of this printing). We also include information valuable to programmers using earlier releases and discuss Swing enhancements planned for the near future.

The online form of The Java Tutorial has covered the Swing components since their first public early-access release—Swing 0.2, which came out in July 1997. Throughout the early releases, the Tutorial kept pace with API changes and additions. Readers and reviewers kept us on our toes, helping us improve each page tremendously. Although this book has its roots in the online version, this edition has been reorganized and rewritten.

Numerous improvements have been made. First, this book uses current API (v1.4.2), has six new introductory chapters, and has an easy-to-use tabbed reference section. It reflects lessons learned by the Swing team in the years since the introduction of Swing components. Second, we cover newer features such as JFormattedTextField, JSpinner, indeterminate JProgressBar, mouse wheel support, the rearchitected focus subsystem, and improved support for drag and drop.

The book and CD contain more than 150 complete, working examples. The authors have worked closely with the Swing team to ensure that the code and discussions reflect recommended usage. The Swing component set has now been out for several years now and has a mature API. That, combined with the years of experience the Swing writers and engineers have had with the API, enables us to create the definitive introduction and guide for both inexperienced and advanced programmers who use Swing components.