Desktop application calmly receives AJAX

The combination of AJAX (asynchronous JavaScript and XML) is always mentioned whenever people talk about web services because it helps the software no longer have to be tied to the hard drive. This has a significant impact on the Java desktop developers.

Desktop Matters conference, which took place in San Jose, California (USA) last afternoon, mainly talked about Java technologies like Swing (used to build Java desktop applications), Spring Java Web and open code platform NetBeans has enough ability to deal with AJAX.

" We're seeing the web work more like the desktop, and the desktop environment is re -creating the web, " said Dion Almaer, co-founder of Ajaxian.com. " The online version of some desktop applications, for example Microsoft Office has begun to appear. Meanwhile, AJAX also 'mimics' desktop programs like in Zoho Office ."

According to Almaer, there are many areas where desktop applications dominate compared to web applications, such as access to local storage data, graphics power and the ability to protect sensitive data. Moreover, Java desktop developers do not need to be too worried that the "suppression" of web services by AJAX is still progressing slowly.

Ben Galbraith, chief organizer of Desktop Matters conference, introduced the Nimbus project, promising to bring a different feel to Swing technology. Nimbus is developed by Sun and posted on Jave.net.

In terms of graphics, Nimbus is similar to the Mac OS X and Windows Vista Aero interface. The first beta of Nimbus will be shown in JavaOne conference, taking place in San Francisco (USA) from 8/5/07.