Java GUI that looks nice

[sqeezon]

I am trying to develop a java application to talk to a database. I know of a few different options for designing a gui for the app. There is swing which is built in but it looks terrible and I would rather go with something a little "flashier". I could do a java applet in a web browser but this also doesn't look very good and from what I hear isn't very popular due to performance issues. I also looked into a flash gui using Flash Remoting MX. This sounds like a good idea but the software costs $999, so that is out of the question.

Can anyone offer me some decent alternatives to the above ideas. I have some freedom as to if the java app will run on the clients machine or on a server, so keep that in mind.

 

[KaosDG]

Have you looked into SWT?

It basically provides the interface of the host OS. (unlike AWT/Swing stuff)

 

[tim_m]

i agree that the default swing look and feel is rather ugly. not sure if you're aware but you can change the look and feel (i.e. theme) of swing, try adding this before you start making your gui (assuming you've imported javax.swing.*; )

		try {
			// Set System L&F
			UIManager.setLookAndFeel(
				UIManager.getSystemLookAndFeelClassName());
		} catch (Exception e) {
			System.err.println("Coultn'd set L&F: " + e.getMessage());
		}

it will mimic the current os's gui system but it is just a mimic. the java people have to make a theme based on the os. swt actually uses native widgets so it will truely be the same as the os. i've never used swt myself though so i can't help you much there.

 

[generelz]

Do you need a "thick" client? (e.g. something that runs directly on the client operating system)

Have you considered using a webapp and using GWT (http://code.google.com/webtoolkit/)? Then your application would be zero-footprint and accessible without downloading anything.

 

[kschneid]

• Filthy Rich Clients
• JGoodies
• Swing Sightings
• Screenshots of Palantir

It's not that difficult to find examples of nice looking Swing apps, so it can definitely be done. Since you've got some flexibility with the architecture, you might want to consider doing the GUI in HTML/CSS/JavaScript and leverage something like YUI, Ext or dojo.