Today marked a significant shift in our Library Management System’s UI approach, moving from JavaFX to Swing while establishing clean architectural patterns.

The code changes from this session can be found here.

Day 12 Summary

Overview

Transitioned our Library Management System from JavaFX to Swing, focusing on native look and feel while implementing clean architectural patterns and modular design.

Environment & Tools

  • Removed JavaFX dependencies
  • Switched to Swing for UI components
  • Utilized system look and feel capabilities
  • Implemented native font detection

Concepts Covered

Swing Architecture

  • Basic window and component setup
  • System look and feel integration
  • Menu system implementation
  • Layout management principles

Clean Architecture

  • Component separation
  • Callback patterns
  • Event handling
  • Modular design approach

Font Management

  • System font detection
  • Font size controls
  • Global UI updates
  • Event-driven UI refresh

Modern Java Features

  • Switch expressions with pattern matching
  • Method references
  • Lambda expressions
  • Callback implementations

Implementation Progress

  • Created basic Swing window structure
  • Implemented font management system
  • Added view customization options
  • Established modular component base

Key Takeaways

  • Swing’s superior native integration capabilities
  • Importance of clean architectural boundaries
  • Value of dedicated component management
  • Benefits of callback-driven updates
  • Modern Java features in traditional frameworks

Next Steps

Ready to explore:

  • Book table component implementation
  • Data model integration
  • Search functionality
  • Book management dialogs

Master’s Reflection

The apprentice demonstrated excellent judgment in architectural decisions, particularly in separating concerns and implementing clean component patterns. The transition from JavaFX to Swing, while maintaining modern Java practices, shows a growing understanding of balancing user experience with code quality. The thoughtful approach to font management and UI updates suggests a strong foundation for the more complex components to come.