Developing Your First Compiled JavaFX Script Program - CompiledHelloJavaFX

As I said in this post a couple of days ago, the next JavaFX Puzzler will be posted at 18:00 GMT (1:00 pm EST) on Wednesday, November 28, 2007.  It will be a compiled JavaFX Script puzzler, so you'll need to build the JavaFX Script Compiler in order to participate in the Puzzler. 

Important Note: If you'd like to save some time and disk space by downloading the latest build of the JavaFX Script Compiler rather than building it on your machine, see the next post (Obtaining the OpenJFX Script Compiler Just Got Easier).

To help prepare you for the Puzzler, I'd like to you to develop a very basic "Hello World" style program.  After you've built the compiler, please copy and paste the following code into a file with the FX extension.  I chose CompiledHelloJavaFX.fx for my filename:

/*
 *  CompiledHelloJavaFX.fx - A Hello World style compiled JavaFX Script program
 *
 *  Developed 2007 by James L. Weaver (jim.weaver at lat-inc.com)
 */
 
 import java.lang.System;
 
 class CompiledHelloJavaFX {
   attribute textToPrint:String = "Hello Compiled JavaFX Script!";
 }
 
var chjfx =
  CompiledHelloJavaFX {
  };

System.out.println(chjfx.textToPrint);

This simple compiled JavaFX Script program is almost identical to what it would be if it were written in interpreted JavaFX Script.  The difference (attribute initialization) is noted in the Converting to the New Syntax document  that I've referred you to previously.

To compile the program, set your PATH environment variable to the dist/bin directory of where you installed the JavaFX compiler.  Then execute the proper javafxc command file for your operating system, passing your FX file as an argument.  On my Windows machine, I navigate to the directory in which my FX file is located, and enter the following from the command prompt:

javafxc CompiledHelloJavaFX.fx

To run your program, set the CLASSPATH environment variable to the javafxc.jar file in the dist directory as well as the current directory, passing in the name of the JavaFX Script program without the FX extension.  On my Windows machine, I enter the following from the command prompt:

java -cp C:\openjfx-compiler\dist\javafxc.jar;. CompiledHelloJavaFX

Note: If there is a package statement in your JavaFX Script program, then navigate to the directory in which the top node of the package is located.  See the Develop and Run Your First JavaFX Script Program in the Next Few Minutes post for a discussion on the package statement.

For a review, or to catch up if you're new to this Learn JavaFX blog, see the posts in the JavaFX Script category to learn the syntax of interpreted JavaFX Script programs.  As I've noted before, JavaFX Script is migrating from being an interpreted language to becoming a compiled language.  When compiled JavaFX Script is mature it will eventually replace interpreted JavaFX Script.  Please post any questions that you have as you build the JavaFX Script Compiler, and as you compile and run this example.

Enjoy,
Jim Weaver
JavaFX Script: Dynamic Java Scripting for Rich Internet/Client-side Applications
Immediate eBook (PDF) download available at the book's Apress site

Comments

[Account Deleted]

great post. thanks for the tips, man

Alex,
http://www.bookiestore.com/