javafx = applets 2.0

So after spending a bit of time looking at JavaFX my impression is that it's a great idea... but I question the need for yet another scripting language in the form of JavaFX Script. Java 6 implements JSR 223 and even includes scripting based on Rhino, i.e., Javascript. Now, Javascript has its flaws (and they are many) but it's a standard, so why not start there?

That aside, JavaFX strikes me as applets 2.0, or rather Applets Done Right. Or, As Right As Possible, given the JVM requirement. While a lot of people probably worry about performance or UI, I don't (I have a long-standing position on this topic :)). However, I do worry about the Java webstart "requirement". JWS is a topic on which I've written before, and yes, that was a while ago, but JWS is still a bit clunky. And I am not entirely convinced that the way to create "Web 2.0" applications is to jump out of the web browser altogether. :)

Anyway, an interesting thing to watch as it develops.

ning javaone slides

I just posted the JavaOne presentation and some notes over at the Ning Developer Blog. Check it out!