Basic HTML version of Foils prepared 19 July 97

Foil 5 AWT Lightweight Components

From Overview of JDK Version 1.1 Extensions CPS616 -- Information Track of CPS -- Spring Semester 97. by Nancy J. McCracken


1 In former releases of JDK, components were implemented by a peer class in the native window system, called "heavyweight components". These have problems:
  • Native components are always rectangular and opaque.
  • Native windows are handled differently on different platforms resulting in complex AWT logic to try (sometimes unsuccessfully!) to preserve consistent performance across platforms.
2 JDK 1.1 has Lightweight UI Framework: subclasses of Component and Container are now implemented wholly in Java code without native code
  • User can define look of components, including transparent backgrounds, round buttons, etc., giving common "look and feel" across platforms.
  • Current built-in classes for basic components such as buttons are in process of being re-implemented as lightweight (see swing set)

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