How can I create a drag-and-drop component GUI builder using Swing?

Question

I want to develop a program that creates Swing applications and whose Java source code is created side by side (eg drag a button and drop it onto frame whose source is to be created).

1. How much time it will take?
2. Should I use JInternalFrame or simple Frame?
3. How should I generate source code? How does code get put into the .java file when I drag-and-drop a component?

Answer 1

You can use something like GMF to create a graphical editor that generates code. Building something like this from scratch would take months or years depending on your skill level and the scope of what you need.