10 replies to this topic

[EddieInOhio]

I am a beginner programmer...well, not really a programmer at all yet but I'm interested in it.

I've learned a bit of visual basic in a beginner college course.
I liked how you could set the exact position and size of controls within the
forms, and even write script to make the controls move around.
I want to learn a language that:

1. Allows you to create GUIs.
2. Allows you to set exact pixel positions and sizes, and change their
positions/sizes throughout the script.
3. Allows you to create an executable file that can run on basically any
Windows OS.

VB has 1 and 2, but not 3.
I have read up on Java a little, and I see that it has 1, and I'm pretty sure it has 3. However, from what I read, Java does not have 2. I couldn't find anything explaining how to set positions of controls to your exact specifications, only some "layouts" that automatically do it.

Is it possible to do that in Java, or should I be considering a different language? What language do I need?

Thanks.

[WingedPanther]

2 is possible, but Java is not a RAD environment, under normal circumstances. Delphi also has 1, 2, and 3.

[ZekeDragon]

Java proper isn't a RAD environment, like Winged said, but when you add NetBeans to programming with Java, NetBeans contains a GUI Building environment for generating Java code. So that could work out rather well for you if you tried it. :)

Also Java doesn't need to be recompiled to work on multiple machines, even Linux, Mac, and Solaris.

[chili5]

Although the code made with the Netbeans editor can be a real pain to work with. It is really useful though!

[EddieInOhio]

Thanks for the info everyone. But can someone explain what a RAD environment is? From the context I figure it has to do with the positioning and sizing of controls and such.

[ZekeDragon]

A RAD environment means "Rapid-Application Development", it's the visual interface that allows you to drag-and-drop controls onto a generated window and position them. Visual Basic has that, when you start it up it shows you a window you can drag-and-drop controls onto to later use in the code. That's what is generally accepted as RAD. RAD is essentially a WYSIWYG for GUI development.

Quite a few BASIC flavors employ RAD, including VB. Also REALbasic, Gambas, and a few others. Other languages employ GUI development by simply positioning controls using widgets/absolute positioning in code. So with C++ you'd code write your interface, which requires a bit of a build-test-rewrite-build... cycle, but it works well.

Some C++ toolkits come with their own RAD systems, like Qt and WxWidgets (if you find it ;)). You can also do all that stuff as above in C++, Delphi/Lazarus, or pretty much any common language to be honest. It's a matter of personal preference.

[Turk4n]

2. Allows you to set exact pixel positions and sizes, and change their
positions/sizes throughout the script.

I have read up on Java a little, and I see that it has 1, and I'm pretty sure it has 3. However, from what I read, Java does not have 2. I couldn't find anything explaining how to set positions of controls to your exact specifications, only some "layouts" that automatically do it.

You seem to not have read enough.
Let me tell you this you can position everything you want in a panel or frame in java. You can use setLayout(null); this means you don't have any specific scheme to follow or so. You will have to set all your components where ever you want them to be. Also you can change size and etc.

[EddieInOhio]

Ok thanks guys, I just wanted to make sure that I was going to be able to do the things I wanted if I learned Java, or any language. I think I'll try to learn Java then.

Thanks!

[wim DC]

Quote

3. Allows you to create an executable file that can run on basically any
Windows OS.

It needs to be an OS with java installed then i think. It's not that you can create an exe file that everybody can run. Or i must have missed a part ^^

[WingedPanther]

There's actually a portable Java, now. You can carry Java on a pendrive :)