Author/s: James L. Weaver
Publisher: Apress
Review by: Ulf Dittmer
Rating: 5 horseshoes
JavaFX Script ("JavaFX" henceforth) is a new way to develop client-side
Java GUI applications, comprised of a more declarative code syntax, and some new ways to couple behavior to code. That being the case, it (and by extension, this book) has two audiences: developers proficient in Java who want to learn about JavaFX, and web developers interested in building rich client applications who may not know much (or any) Java.
Falling into the first group, this reviewer thinks neither group is well served by the book. Java developers don't need much introduction to basic concepts; they'd be better served by comparisons between how things are done in plain Java, and how they are done in JavaFX, plus an overview of the new features JavaFX brings to the table. Neither is included in the book. Non-Java developers will struggle when trying to understand Java syntax and concepts, JavaFX concepts and parts of the Java class libraries all at once.
Most of the book is taken up by presenting various JavaFX concepts using a single medium-sized example GUI application (that builds
word search puzzles, although that's really besides the point). Where some concepts don't fit that application, small additional examples are used. This does help in understanding what's going on, since the code can simply be run, and the effects of certain constructs be observed, if the text leaves something unclear.
