A Comparison of ElectronJS vs JavaFX for Desktop Application Development

ElectronJS and JavaFX are both popular frameworks used for building desktop applications, but they have some fundamental differences in terms of their underlying technologies, programming paradigms, and target audience.

Choosing between ElectronJS and JavaFX for desktop application development can be a daunting task. In this article, we’ll compare the two frameworks and help you decide which one is right for your needs.

We’ll provide sample code for both ElectronJS and JavaFX to help you get started with building your own desktop applications.

ElectronJS is a framework for building cross-platform desktop applications using web technologies such as HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. It is built on top of Node.js and Chromium and provides a powerful set of APIs and tools for building native-looking desktop applications using web technologies.

ElectronJS is primarily targeted towards web developers who want to leverage their existing skills to build desktop applications.

JavaFX, on the other hand, is a framework for building desktop applications using the Java programming language. It is built on top of the Java Virtual Machine (JVM) and provides a rich set of APIs and tools for building native-looking desktop applications with advanced graphics, media, and UI features.

JavaFX is primarily targeted towards Java developers who want to build desktop applications with advanced features.

Key differences between ElectronJS and JavaFX

Programming languages: ElectronJS uses web technologies such as HTML, CSS, and JavaScript, while JavaFX uses the Java programming language.

Development environment: ElectronJS is typically developed using text editors or IDEs that are familiar to web developers, while JavaFX is typically developed using IDEs such as Eclipse or IntelliJ IDEA that are designed for Java development.

Target platforms: ElectronJS can be used to build applications for Windows, macOS, and Linux, while JavaFX can be used to build applications for any platform that supports the Java Virtual Machine.

UI design: ElectronJS provides a powerful set of UI components and tools for building desktop applications using web technologies, while JavaFX provides a rich set of UI components and tools for building advanced graphics, media, and UI features.

In summary, ElectronJS and JavaFX are two different frameworks that cater to different target audiences and have different strengths and weaknesses.

Choosing the right framework depends on the requirements of your project and the skills and preferences of your development team.

ElectronJS vs JavaFX should get started

If you’re deciding between ElectronJS and JavaFX to get started with building desktop applications, here are some factors to consider:

1. Familiarity with programming languages: If you’re already familiar with web technologies such as HTML, CSS, and JavaScript, then ElectronJS might be a better choice for you. On the other hand, if you’re already familiar with Java, then JavaFX might be a better choice.
2. Target audience: If you’re primarily targeting web developers who are familiar with web technologies, then ElectronJS might be a better choice. If you’re targeting Java developers, then JavaFX might be a better choice.
3. Project requirements: Consider the specific requirements of your project. For example, if you need advanced graphics or media capabilities, then JavaFX might be a better choice.
4. Development environment: Consider the development environment that you’re most comfortable with. If you’re already comfortable with web development tools such as text editors or IDEs like Visual Studio Code, then ElectronJS might be a better choice. If you’re comfortable with Java development tools such as Eclipse or IntelliJ IDEA, then JavaFX might be a better choice.

Ultimately, both frameworks are capable of building high-quality desktop applications, and the choice depends on your specific needs and preferences.

If you’re new to both frameworks, it might be helpful to try out both and see which one you feel more comfortable with. There are plenty of resources available online to help you get started with either framework.

Basic ElectronJS application

Here’s a simple example of how to create a basic ElectronJS application:

1. Create a new directory for your project and navigate to it in your terminal.
2. Initialize a new npm project by running npm init.
3. Install ElectronJS by running npm install electron.
4. Create a new file called main.js in your project directory.
5. Add the following code to main.js:

const { app, BrowserWindow } = require('electron')

function createWindow() {
  const win = new BrowserWindow({
    width: 800,
    height: 600,
    webPreferences: {
      nodeIntegration: true
    }
  })

  win.loadFile('index.html')
}

app.whenReady().then(() => {
  createWindow()

  app.on('activate', () => {
    if (BrowserWindow.getAllWindows().length === 0) {
      createWindow()
    }
  })
})

app.on('window-all-closed', () => {
  if (process.platform !== 'darwin') {
    app.quit()
  }
})

This code sets up a basic ElectronJS application with a single browser window. It loads the index.html file, which we will create next.

6. Create a new file called index.html in your project directory.
7. Add the following code to index.html:

<!DOCTYPE html>
<html>
  <head>
    <meta charset="UTF-8">
    <title>Hello World!</title>
  </head>
  <body>
    <h1>Hello World!</h1>
  </body>
</html>

This code creates a simple HTML page with a heading that says “Hello World!”.

8. Run your ElectronJS application by running npm start in your terminal.

This will start your ElectronJS application and open a window that displays the “Hello World!” message. You can customize this application further by adding more HTML, CSS, and JavaScript to index.html and main.js.

Basic JavaFX application

Here’s a simple example of how to create a basic JavaFX application:

1. Create a new Java project in your preferred IDE.
2. Add the JavaFX library to your project dependencies. The exact steps for doing this will depend on your IDE and project setup.
3. Create a new file called Main.java in your project directory.
4. Add the following code to Main.java:

import javafx.application.Application;
import javafx.scene.Scene;
import javafx.scene.control.Label;
import javafx.scene.layout.StackPane;
import javafx.stage.Stage;

public class Main extends Application {

    @Override
    public void start(Stage primaryStage) {
        Label label = new Label("Hello World!");
        StackPane root = new StackPane(label);
        Scene scene = new Scene(root, 300, 250);

        primaryStage.setTitle("My JavaFX Application");
        primaryStage.setScene(scene);
        primaryStage.show();
    }

    public static void main(String[] args) {
        launch(args);
    }

}

This code sets up a basic JavaFX application with a single label that says “Hello World!”. It uses a StackPane layout to center the label, and creates a new Scene with a size of 300×250.

5. Run your JavaFX application by running the main method in your Main class.

This will start your JavaFX application and display a window with the “Hello World!” label. You can customize this application further by adding more JavaFX components and logic to the start method.