Java's AWT or Swing for GUI construction?

Question

I need to compose a fairly simple GUI for a server monitoring process. It will have a few tabs which lead to a log tailing, counts of resources, and a start and top control. Nothing fancy here. Which Java framework, AWT or Swing, makes more sense for something this simple.

Answer 1

Swing is the way to go. It's a cleaner programming interface, and looks better.

Answer 2

Use Swing or SWT , since AWT has no tabs built in.

Starting with Java 6 Update 10 , Swing got an entirely new look and feel, the 'Nimbus Look and Feel'. It looks great and is really fast because it uses vector graphics.

Answer 3

Swing is your best choice if you're stuck choosing between Swing and AWT.

If you have the flexibility, I would at least consider SWT . It's faster, matches the platform look and feel, and seems to have fewer porting hurdles and regression problems from release to release. There is a small hurdle in setting up your first project (getting the right jars and such), but other than that, it's no more difficult to work in.

Answer 4

AWT was the first Java GUI framework, it had a lot of flaws and was abandoned in favor of Swing. The main reason it is still in the JDK is for backwards compatibility and because some classes are re-used by Swing.

The future however (even for the desktop) could be JavaFX .

Answer 5

如果您正在寻找更好看的GUI，您可以在这个地址查看实质外观包： https ： //substance.dev.java.net/see.html

Answer 6

if you are planning to move your gui onto multiple platforms, then go with AWT. Otherwise, Swing gives you a much broader set of components to work with.