What is JavaFX?

JavaFX is a rich client platform for building cross-device applications and content. Designed to enable easy creation and deployment of rich internet applications (RIAs) with immersive media and content, the JavaFX platform ensures that RIAs look and behave consistently across diverse form factors and devices.

The JavaFX 1.0 platform release includes the following components:

• JavaFX 1.0 SDK which includes the JavaFX compiler and runtime tools, graphics, media, web services, and rich text libraries to create RIAs for the desktop, browser and mobile platforms
  
  
• NetBeans IDE 6.5 for JavaFX 1.0 which provides a sophisticated integrated development environment for building, previewing, and debugging JavaFX applications. The editor features a drag-and-drop palette to quickly add JavaFX objects with transformations, effects and animation. This IDE also comes with its own set of Building Blocks samples and the Beta version of the JavaFX Mobile Emulator, a mobile phone simulator.
  
  
• JavaFX 1.0 Production Suite is a suite of tools and plugins for creative tools that enable designers to export graphical assets to JavaFX applications.

What to Download

This section guides you in determining what to download to get started using the JavaFX technology.

1. Ensure that you meet the system and software requirements. Check that you have the required hardware and available free disk space, and the correct version of the Java Software Development Kit (JDK) or Java Runtime Environment (JRE) prior to proceeding with any of the following installation instructions.
   
   
2. For application developers:
   
   
   • If you are new to NetBeans IDE 6.5, download and install NetBeans IDE 6.5 for JavaFX 1.0 (available for Microsoft Windows and Mac OS X platforms only).
     
     It is a full featured development environment that is bundled with the JavaFX Software Development Kit (SDK) and best practices samples to assist your software development project. The installation includes the Beta version of the JavaFX Mobile Emulator, which is currently available on the Microsoft Windows platform only.
     
     
   • If you already have NetBeans IDE 6.5, update your IDE with JavaFX 1.0 Plugin for NetBeans (available for Microsoft Windows and Mac OS X platforms only).
     
     The plugins provide the features that support the development of JavaFX applications in the NetBeans IDE. They also include the JavaFX SDK and best practice samples. The installation includes the Beta version of the JavaFX Mobile Emulator, which is currently available on the Microsoft Windows platform only.
     
     
   • If you prefer command line development, download and install the JavaFX 1.0 SDK (available for Microsoft Windows and Mac OS X platforms only). The installation includes the Beta version of the JavaFX Mobile Emulator, which is currently available on the Microsoft Windows platform only.
3. For web designers, download and install the JavaFX 1.0 Production Suite. (available for Microsoft Windows and Mac OS X platforms only)
   
   The JavaFX Production Suite is a set of tools for converting graphics to a format that can be used for JavaFX applications. Using the Production Suite plugins, you can export graphics from Adobe Illustrator or Adobe Photoshop into JavaFX format.