Java GUI Application Learning Trail

What is a GUI application?

A graphical user interface (GUI) is an application that uses the standard Java components GUI component set, Swing, and is deployed to the desktop. Like all Java code, Java GUI applications simplify the task of creating desktop applications because they can be run on any platform.

The GUI Builder in NetBeans IDE has long provided advanced GUI application support. In NetBeans IDE 5.0, this support was greatly enhanced with new tools (code named Matisse) that provide an innovative approach to developing Java GUIs. These tools include a new layout manager called GroupLayout and a visual GUI builder that makes the layout design of visual forms much easier. The GUI builder exposes simple layout rules that are easy to understand and to use quickly. It lets you lay out components freely, providing visual guidelines for optimal spacing between components and alignment of components.