This past weekend I got started on my personal project to learn programming in JavaFX. While I am a Marketing Guy by day I spent a lot of years as a software engineer and my career is founded far more on C programming than B School. I've explored basic Java plus tinkered with a variety of scripting languages. I figured I'd be a good novice test case for JavaFX Script and its powerful graphics and media capabilities.

Getting started was easy enough as everything you need -- the Preview SDK, sample programs, and API documentation -- is available via javafx.com. The NetBeans IDE makes it easy to create a JavaFX project and begin editing .jx files.

So what to build? Deciding on my first JavaFX app was easy. Just prior to JavaOne this year I used NetBeans to create in Java a countdown timer I could use to remind us all how many (or how few) days remained before the start of JavaOne. Obviously I needed to craft a JavaFX version of that same countdown app to use for this year. (And yes, we are already well into the planning for JavaOne 2009.)

I went from initial download of the JavaFX Preview SDK to completion of the JavaFX countdown timer app in two evenings. It was easy, fun, and I learned quite a lot. NetBeans and a couple of JavaFX sample applications were tremendously valuable, along with the API docs on javafx.com.

A screen snapshot of my completed application is at the top of this blog entry. Over the course of a few more entries I'll talk about the development experience and my observations about JavaFX Script. What I can say for now is that ease with which I built my first application has me convinced that JavaFX will let me do something I couldn't have done before -- create Rich Internet Applications for desktop, mobile, and TV. I can't wait!