Amazon.co.uk
In bygone days programmers reckoned 10 per cent of the effort went into the program and 90 per cent into its user interface. Most modern programming environments build user interfaces on the fly--apart from Java which is weak and provides inconsistent classes in this area. But no more.
Swing is completely written in Java to avoid platform dependencies and is designed to make interfaces to Java programs easy to create; but in itself it's complex. The authors take 1200 pages to explain it all, beginning with an apology for any confusion on version numbering and availability - Swing is still a moving target.
Java Swing starts by describing changes from the AWT classes. It also introduces, describes and provides usage examples of the new Swing classes and interfaces. Along with the basics are a number of complete Swing applications, including a text editor. By the time you reach the end of the book you're already modifying the basic interface to provide a customised look and feel for applications.
The authors claim there will be a new version when Swing settles down with final package names and a "finished" release for JDK 1.1. Don't wait. You need Java Swing now. --Steve Patient
Amazon.com
Java Swing is an excellent introduction to the latest developments in Java-interface technology. The authors explain how (and why) to use Swing components, and meanwhile proceed to document the entire Swing API with the thoroughness and accuracy programmers have come to expect from O'Reilly & Associates.
Eckstein, Loy, and Wood start with an architectural overview of Swing and its relationship to the Abstract Window Toolkit (AWT) and the rest of Java. They talk a little bit about converting programs from the old AWT to the Swing-enhanced AWT, and explain how Swing manages components' "look and feel" characteristics. There's also coverage of actions, which are among Swing's handiest new features.
From that point, they proceed to guide readers through the Swing forest, pointing out all the important stuff along the way. Mostly, this tour takes the form of graphical user interface (GUI) component documentation, with chapters devoted to buttons, lists, tables, panes, and the other thingamajigs you can put on-screen with Swing. All the classes in each category get entries, many of which include good commentary and some examples. The authors give some attention to the Accessibility API and its associated utilities, too.
A detailed chapter that walks the reader through the process of creating a custom look and feel distinguishes Java Swing from its competitors--this potentially confusing process is explained clearly and thoroughly. --David Wall
