Creating a Basic JavaFX Application
Learn how to create your first JavaFX application by extending the Application class, setting up the primary stage, and launching your app.
Welcome to the Jukebox JavaFX Tutorial
This documentation is designed for students who have a basic understanding of Java and want to learn JavaFX. We'll use the Jukebox project as a reference implementation to explain key JavaFX concepts through practical, hands-on examples.
What is the Jukebox Project?
The Jukebox is a music library management application that allows users to browse, play, and manage their music collection. It demonstrates a complete JavaFX application with multiple views, data persistence, and a clean MVC (Model-View-Controller) architecture.
What You'll Learn
This tutorial covers:
- JavaFX Fundamentals: Creating windows, scenes, and basic UI controls
- FXML: Building UIs declaratively with XML
- Controllers: Handling user interactions and managing views
- Data Management: Working with models, lists, and persistence
- Navigation: Switching between different views/screens
- UI Components: ListView, TableView, ComboBox, SplitPane, and more
- Data Persistence: Saving and loading data with Gson
- Styling: Applying CSS to JavaFX applications
Prerequisites
Cookbook Sections
Browse our collection of how-to guides that walk you through specific JavaFX tasks using real code from the Jukebox project:
Working with FXML Views
Discover how to define your UI declaratively using FXML files and load them with FXMLLoader.
Creating Controllers
Learn how controllers handle user interactions, receive FXML-injected elements, and manage view lifecycle with the initialize() method.
Navigation Between Views
Understand the single-window architecture and how to switch between different views using a container-based approach.
Working with Data Models
Create simple model classes to represent your application data, including enums and composition relationships.
Working with Lists
Master ListView configuration, ObservableList usage, selection handling, and working with collections.
Adding Items to a List
Implement add functionality for your ListView, including creating new objects, adding to collections, and auto-selecting new items.
Removing Items from a List
Learn how to safely remove items from ListView with confirmation dialogs, including proper cleanup of selection state.
Editing Items in a List
Implement two-way editing of list items using selection listeners, TextField listeners, and automatic ListView refresh.
Using TableView
Display tabular data with TableView, configure columns with cell value factories, and handle row selection.
Saving and Loading with Gson
Serialize and deserialize your application data to JSON files using the Gson library for easy persistence.
Working with ComboBox
Populate a ComboBox from enum values, set default selections, and respond to user selections with change listeners.
Using SplitPane
Create resizable, divider-based layouts with SplitPane to organize complex UIs into separate, adjustable sections.
Working with Alerts and Dialogs
Show confirmation dialogs and information alerts to users, and handle their responses in your application logic.
Styling with CSS
Apply CSS stylesheets to your JavaFX application to create a custom look and feel, just like styling web pages.
Controller Communication
Understand how controllers can communicate with each other using static references and global state management.
Auto-Save and Data Persistence
Implement automatic saving of data when users navigate between views, preventing data loss from forgotten saves.
How to Use This Documentation
Tip for Students: Start with the "Getting Started" section if you're new to JavaFX. Then work through the cookbook sections in order, as each builds on concepts from the previous ones.