The Dark Ages (Not So Long Ago)

Until recently (April 1997) User Interfaces not a strong point of Java:

• AWT (Abstract Window Toolkit) part of initial JDK
• AWT not sufficient for complex user interfaces
• AWT (JDK 1.0) not portable -- heavy reliance on runtime platform, poor event model.
• AWT (JDK 1.1) new efficient event model not many additions to basic HCI components -- portability not solved.
• (April 1997) Java Foundation Classes (JFC) includes a much more complete, flexible and portable set of user interface components, SWING.
• JFC supersedes (and includes) the AWT.
• No runtime components in Swing -- portability no longer a problem.

Swing releases:

• First Official Release JDK 1.1
• JFC and Swing part of JDK 1.2
• Swing runs on any virtual machine 1.1.5 or above.

Swing downloadable from java.sun.com/products/jfc