Wow, you ask quite a large question. Let me ask you first, how long have you been doing
Java development? Swing development? Any development?
As to how to learn properties, communication across components, etc...there are a wealth of tutorials (see
http://java.sun.com.)
For me, I learned to do the "cool" custom components by looking at the underlying Swing classes, seeing how they do things, and then moving from there. Also, I have been doing Java/Swing for over 10 years, so experience is a great teacher.
As to how to know I am doing it the "Best/Right" way...as with most things in software, there are a dozen ways to achieve the same end goal... If you want to learn about "best practices" (IMHO), look to the Java Design
Patterns. There is a good series called Head First that has a great book design patterns. Check them out.
Resources? Other developers, these forums (JavaRanch is a good one), read what other developers are posting and how they are solved, dream up a simple program and implement it. Come up with your own requirements and try to implement them...just start doing and learn as you go.
Hope this gets to the heart of your question...
[ July 30, 2008: Message edited by: Gil Estes ]
