This document introduces GroovyFX, a library for building JavaFX user interfaces using Groovy. It provides examples of common UI elements like forms, layouts, lists, tables, actions and charts that can be built more declaratively compared to plain JavaFX. The library uses Groovy's builder pattern and bindings to simplify and streamline the development of JavaFX applications.

1. GroovyFX - Groove JavaFX_
Alexander (Sascha) Klein <alexander.klein@codecentric.de>
 
1

2. About me
Alexander Klein
Branchmanager
codecentric AG
Curiestr. 2
70563 Stuttgart, Germany
+49 (0) 172 529 40 20
alexander.klein@codecentric.de
www.codecentric.de
blog.codecentric.de
@saschaklein
 
2

3. What is GroovyFX
 
3

4. GroovyFX
library for JavaFX using Groovy
Groovy Builder Pattern
DSL on top of JavaFX
declarative
simpler to write
easier to read
more natural
http://groovyfx.org
https://github.com/groovyfx-project/groovyfx
http://groovy.jmiguel.eu/groovy.codehaus.org/GroovyFX.html
 
4

5. Example
groovyx.javafx.GroovyFX.start {
stage(title: 'Hello GroovyFX', visible: true) {
scene(fill: DARKSLATEGREY, width: 860, height: 430) {
borderPane {
top {
hbox(padding: [20, 60, 20, 60]) {
text(text: 'Hello ', font: '80pt sanserif') {
fill linearGradient(endX: 0, stops: [PALEGREEN, SEAGREEN])
}
text(text: 'GroovyFX', font: '80pt sanserif') {
fill linearGradient(endX: 0, stops: [CYAN, DODGERBLUE])
effect dropShadow(color: DODGERBLUE, radius: 25, spread: 0.25)
}
}
}
group(id: 'logo', scaleX: 2, scaleY: 2) {
transitions = parallelTransition()
star delegate, 12, [LIGHTGREEN, GREEN]*.brighter()
star delegate, 6, [LIGHTBLUE, BLUE]*.brighter()
star delegate, 0, [YELLOW, ORANGE]
fxLabel delegate
onMouseClicked { transitions.playFromStart() }
}
} } }
transitions.delay = Duration.seconds(1)
transitions.playFromStart()
transitions.delay = Duration.seconds(0)
}
 
5

6. Example
 
6

7. Simple Scene
General contract
import static groovyx.javafx.GroovyFX.start
start {
stage(title: 'Hello GroovyFX', visible: true) {
scene {
stylesheets('groovyfx.css')
label('Hello GroovyFX', styleClass: 'big')
}
}
}
[container name](value?, attributes*) {
[subcontainer name](value?, attributes*) {
[node name](value?, attributes*)
}
}
 
7

8. Simple Scene
 
8

9. Forms and components
 
9

10. Simple Form
import static groovyx.javafx.GroovyFX.start
start {
stage(title: 'Simple form', visible: true) {
scene {
stylesheets('groovyfx.css')
vbox {
label('Name')
textField(onAction: { evt -> result.text = evt.source.text })
label(id: 'result')
}
}
}
}
 
10

11. Simple Form
 
11

12. Binding
import static groovyx.javafx.GroovyFX.start
start {
stage(title: 'Simple form binding', visible: true) {
scene {
stylesheets('groovyfx.css')
vbox {
label('Name')
def myField = textField()
label text: bind(myField.textProperty())
label text: bind(myField.text())
label text: bind{myField.text}
label text: bind(myField, 'text')
label text: bind(myField, 'text').using{ "Text: $it" }
label id: 'lastLabel'
bind lastLabel.text() to myField.text()
}
}
}
}
 
12

13. Binding
 
13

14. Bean Binding
import java.time.LocalDate
import groovyx.javafx.beans.FXBindable
@FXBindable
class Person {
String name
LocalDate birth
}
def person = new Person(name: 'Sascha', birth: new LocalDate(1975, 4, 1))
groovyx.javafx.GroovyFX.start {
stage(title: 'Bean binding', visible: true) {
scene {
stylesheets('groovyfx.css')
vbox {
label 'Name'
textField(text: bind(person, 'name'))
label 'Birthday'
datePicker(value: bind(person.birth()))
label text: bind { person.birth && person.name }.using {
"$person.name is ${LocalDate.now().year - person.birth.year} years old"
} } } } }
 
14

15. Bean Binding
 
15

16. Layouting
import static groovyx.javafx.GroovyFX.start
start {
stage(title: 'Border Pane Demo', visible: true) {
scene {
stylesheets('groovyfx.css')
borderPane {
top {
label('Header')
}
// center {
textField(id: 'tf')
// }
bottom {
label text: bind(tf.textProperty())
}
right {
imageView('GroovyFX_logo.png')
}
}
}
}
}
 
16

17. Layouting
 
17

18. GridLayout
groovyx.javafx.GroovyFX.start {
stage(title: 'GridLayout form', visible: true) {
scene {
stylesheets('groovyfx.css')
gridPane(hgap: 5, vgap: 10, padding: 25, alignment: TOP_CENTER) {
columnConstraints(minWidth: 50, halignment: RIGHT)
columnConstraints(prefWidth: 250, hgrow: 'always')
label("Please send us your feedback", style: "-fx-font-size: 18px;",
row: 0, columnSpan: 2, halignment: "center", margin: [0, 0, 10]) {
onMouseEntered { e -> e.source.parent.gridLinesVisible = true }
onMouseExited { e -> e.source.parent.gridLinesVisible = false }
}
label("Name", hgrow: "never", row: 1, column: 0)
textField(promptText: "Your name", row: 1, column: 1 )
label("Email", row: 2, column: 0)
textField(promptText: "Your email address", row: 2, column: 1)
label("Message", row: 3, column: 0, valignment: "baseline")
textArea(prefRowCount: 8, row: 3, column: 1, vgrow: 'always')
button("Send Message", row: 4, column: 1, halignment: "right")
} } } }
 
18

19. GridLayout
 
19

20. Lists
@FXBindable
class SelectionHolder {
def selected
}
def selectionHolder = new SelectionHolder()
def colors = ['blue', 'green', 'red']
start { primaryStage ->
stage(title: "GroovyFX List Demo", width: 400, height: 200, visible: true) {
scene(fill: WHITE) {
vbox(padding: 10, spacing: 5) {
choiceBox(value: bind(selectionHolder.selected()), items: colors)
listView(id: 'myList', items: colors) {
onSelect { control, item ->
selectionHolder.selected = item
}
}
selectionHolder.selected().onChange { source, oldValue, newValue ->
myList.selectionModel.select(newValue)
}
label(text: bind(selectionHolder.selected()))
} } } }
 
20

21. Lists
 
21

22. Colors
start { primaryStage ->
List<Color> colors = [
BLUE,
GREEN,
RED,
hsb(67, 0.8, 0.91),
rgb(39, 209, 100),
rgba(20, 100, 150, 0.60),
delegate."#AA4411"
]
stage(title: "GroovyFX Table Demo", visible: true) {
scene(fill: WHITE) {
vbox(padding: 9, spacing: 5) {
//...
 
22

23. Tables
tableView(selectionMode: "single", cellSelectionEnabled: true, items: colors) {
tableColumn text: "Color", prefWidth: 50,
cellValueFactory: { new ReadOnlyObjectWrapper(it.value) },
cellFactory: { column ->
Rectangle rect = rectangle(width: 40, height: 20)
return new TableCell<Color, Color>() {
void updateItem(Color color, boolean empty) {
rect.fill = empty ? Color.TRANSPARENT : color
setGraphic(rect)
} } }
tableColumn text: "Web", prefWidth: 80,
cellValueFactory: {
Color color = it.value
int r = Math.round(color.red * 255.0)
int g = Math.round(color.green * 255.0)
int b = Math.round(color.blue * 255.0)
new ReadOnlyObjectWrapper(String.format("#%02X%02X%02X", r, g, b))
}
tableColumn(property: "opacity", text: "Opacity", prefWidth: 70,
converter: { from -> "${Math.round(from * 100)}%" })
tableColumn(property: "hue", text: "Hue", prefWidth: 120)
tableColumn(property: "brightness", text: "Brightness", prefWidth: 120)
tableColumn(property: "saturation", text: "Saturation", prefWidth: 120)
} } } } }
 
23

24. Tables
 
24

25. Actions
start {
actions {
fxaction(id: 'saveAction',
name: 'Save',
description: 'This saves something',
accelerator: 'Ctrl+S',
enabled: false,
onAction: { println "Save" })
fxaction(id: 'exitAction',
name: 'Exit',
onAction: { primaryStage.close() })
fxaction(id: 'copyAction',
name: 'Copy',
icon: 'icons/copy.png',
onAction: { println "Copy" }
)
fxaction(id: 'pasteAction',
name: 'Paste',
icon: 'icons/paste.png',
onAction: { println "Paste" }
)
fxaction(id: 'checkAction',
name: 'Check',
selected: true,
onAction: { println "Check" }
)
}
// ...
 
25

26. Actions
stage(title: "GroovyFX Menu Demo", width: 650, height: 450, visible: true) {
scene(fill: WHITE) {
borderPane {
top {
menuBar {
menu("File") {
menuItem("Open", onAction: { println "Open" }) {
rectangle(width: 16, height: 16, fill: RED)
}
menuItem(saveAction) {
graphic(circle(radius: 8, fill: BLUE))
}
separatorMenuItem()
menuItem(exitAction)
}
menu(text: "Edit") {
menuItem(text: "Cut", onAction: { println "Cut" }) {
imageView('/icons/cut.png')
}
menuItem(copyAction)
menuItem(pasteAction)
separatorMenuItem()
checkMenuItem(checkAction)
def toggleGroup = new ToggleGroup()
radioMenuItem("Radio1", toggleGroup: toggleGroup, selected: true)
radioMenuItem("Radio2", toggleGroup: toggleGroup)
menu("Foo") {
menuItem("Bar")
menuItem("FooBar")
} } } }
// ...
 
26

27. Actions
center {
vbox(spacing: 20, padding: 10) {
checkBox("Enable 'Save' menu", id: 'cb')
bean(saveAction, enabled: bind(cb.selectedProperty()))
}
}
bottom {
toolBar {
button(onAction: { println "Cut" }) {
graphic imageView('/icons/cut.png')
}
button(copyAction, skipName: true)
button(pasteAction, skipName: true)
}
}
}
}
}
}
 
27

28. Actions
 
28

29. Charts
def pieData = FXCollections.observableArrayList([
new PieChart.Data("Yours", 42),
new PieChart.Data("Mine", 58)
])
start {
Map data = [first: 0.25f, second: 0.25f, third: 0.25f]
stage(title: 'Chart Demo', visible: true, width: 1024, height: 960) {
scene {
stylesheets('groovyfx.css')
stackPane {
scrollPane {
tilePane(padding: 10, prefTileWidth: 480, prefColumns: 2) {
pieChart(data: [first: 0.25f, second: 0.25f, third: 0.25f])
stackPane(alignment: TOP_RIGHT) {
pieChart(data: pieData, animated: true)
button('Add Slice') {
onAction {
pieData.add(new PieChart.Data('Other', 25))
}
}
}
// ...
 
29

30. Charts
lineChart(data: [First: [0,0.25,0.5,1.5,2,1], Second: [0.25,0,0.5,0.5,1.5,0.75]])
final yAxis = numberAxis(label: "Y Axis", lowerBound: -1.2, upperBound: 1.2,
tickUnit: 0.2, autoRanging: false)
lineChart(xAxis: categoryAxis(label: "X Axis"), yAxis: yAxis) {
series(name: 'First Series', data: ["A", 0, "B", 1, "C", -1])
series(name: 'Second Series', data: [["A", 0], ["B", -1], ["C", 1], ["D", 0]])
}
areaChart {
series(name: 'First Series', data: [0, 0, 0.5, 0.2, 1.5, 0.6, 2, 0.8])
series(name: 'Second Series', data: [0, 0, 0.25, 0.2, 0.5, 0.6, 2.25, 0.4])
}
bubbleChart {
series(name: 'First Series', data: [[0,0.2,0.1], [0.5,0.2,0.25], [1.5,0.1,0.5]])
series(name: 'Second Series', data: [[0, 0.1, 0.25], [0.2, 0.5, 0.2]])
}
scatterChart {
series(name: 'First Series', data: [0, 0, 0.5, 0.2, 1.5, 0.6, 2, 0.8])
series(name: 'Second Series', data: [0, 0, 0.25, 0.2, 0.5, 0.6, 2.25, 0.4])
}
barChart(barGap: 0, categoryGap: 0) {
series(name: '2010', data: ['Q1', 1534, 'Q2', 2698, 'Q3', 1945, 'Q4', 3156])
series(name: '2012', data: ['Q1', 2200, 'Q2', 2750, 'Q3', 2125, 'Q4', 3100])
} } } } } } }
 
30

31. Charts
DEMO
 
31

32. Graphics and animations
 
32

33. Paths
start {
stage(title: "GroovyFX Path Demo", visible: true) {
scene(fill: BLACK) {
path(translateX: 0, translateY: 493.672 + 10, fill: WHITE, stroke: GREY,
strokeWidth: 1,
strokeLineCap: StrokeLineCap.BUTT,
strokeLineJoin: StrokeLineJoin.MITER,
strokeMiterLimit: 4.00000000) {
moveTo(x: 105.367, y: -493.672)
cubicCurveTo(
controlX1: 128.507, controlY1: -478.22,
controlX2: 151.465, controlY2: -462.40,
x: 173.917, y: -446.100
)
cubicCurveTo(
controlX1: 128.862, controlY1: -466.995,
controlX2: 79.407, controlY2: -482.018,
x: 24.547, y: -490.346
)
// ...
 
33

34. Paths
cubicCurveTo(controlX1: 71.244, controlY1: -463.626, controlX2: 116.143, controlY2: -434.766,
x: 160.252, y: -404.822)
cubicCurveTo(controlX1: 123.049, controlY1: -422.855, controlX2: 82.772, controlY2: -437.042,
x: 38.650, y: -446.192)
cubicCurveTo(controlX1: 96.868, controlY1: -411.870, controlX2: 148.018, controlY2: -373.727,
x: 193.360, y: -331.986)
cubicCurveTo(controlX1: 136.020, controlY1: -284.773, controlX2: 86.295, controlY2: -227.283,
x: 45.790, y: -157.820)
cubicCurveTo(controlX1: 72.900, controlY1: -182.110, controlX2: 100.700, controlY2: -205.365,
x: 128.658, y: -228.500)
cubicCurveTo(controlX1: 81.942, controlY1: -172.640, controlX2: 45.050, controlY2: -106.990,
x: 20.200, y: -29.865)
cubicCurveTo(controlX1: 40.560, controlY1: -54.485, controlX2: 61.188, controlY2: -78.068,
x: 82.105, y: -100.682)
cubicCurveTo(controlX1: 126.805, controlY1: -168.167, controlX2: 171.672, controlY2: -247.792,
x: 230.961, y: -271.100)
cubicCurveTo(controlX1: 201.351, controlY1: -240.392, controlX2: 167.601, controlY2: -195.936,
x: 132.711, y: -152.955)
cubicCurveTo(controlX1: 173.701, controlY1: -193.392, controlX2: 215.801, controlY2: -230.415,
x: 259.126, y: -264.467)
cubicCurveTo(controlX1: 320.724, controlY1: -193.977, controlX2: 369.883, controlY2: -115.087,
x: 411.271, y: -28.594)
cubicCurveTo(controlX1: 404.533, controlY1: -73.388, controlX2: 394.475, controlY2: -115.978,
x: 381.241, y: -156.260)
lineTo(x: 427.685, y: -90.730)
// ...
 
34

35. Paths
cubicCurveTo(controlX1: 427.685, controlY1: -90.730, controlX2: 401.648, controlY2: -163.420,
x: 384.025, y: -192.717)
cubicCurveTo(controlX1: 424.785, controlY1: -136.807, controlX2: 462.233, controlY2: -78.289,
x: 496.353, y: -17.512)
cubicCurveTo(controlX1: 477.679, controlY1: -106.966, controlX2: 445.841, controlY2: -187.284,
x: 397.460, y: -255.736)
cubicCurveTo(controlX1: 432.366, controlY1: -221.046, controlX2: 466.097, controlY2: -184.636,
x: 498.390, y: -146.691)
cubicCurveTo(controlX1: 465.048, controlY1: -223.173, controlX2: 423.580, controlY2: -290.180,
x: 372.214, y: -345.000)
cubicCurveTo(controlX1: 412.438, controlY1: -370.887, controlX2: 453.694, controlY2: -394.730,
x: 496.077, y: -416.783)
cubicCurveTo(controlX1: 464.052, controlY1: -411.223, controlX2: 433.587, controlY2: -403.863,
x: 404.071, y: -394.849)
cubicCurveTo(controlX1: 425.907, controlY1: -411.022, controlX2: 448.481, controlY2: -426.973,
x: 471.095, y: -442.372)
cubicCurveTo(controlX1: 433.108, controlY1: -430.462, controlX2: 396.462, controlY2: -416.597,
x: 362.028, y: -400.939)
cubicCurveTo(controlX1: 404.696, controlY1: -428.612, controlX2: 448.348, controlY2: -454.607,
x: 493.032, y: -479.541)
lineTo(x: 493.029, y: -479.541)
cubicCurveTo(controlX1: 425.559, controlY1: -461.486, controlX2: 362.199, controlY2: -437.351,
x: 304.031, y: -405.993)
cubicCurveTo(controlX1: 247.737, controlY1: -447.783, controlX2: 182.021, controlY2: -477.780,
x: 105.368, y: -493.673)
lineTo(x: 105.367, y: -493.672)
closePath()
} } } }
 
35

36. Paths
 
36

37. Shapes
start {
stage(title: "GroovyFX Shape Demo", width: 400, height: 400, visible: true) {
scene(fill: BLACK) {
group(id: 'group') {
rectangle x: 25, y: 25,
width: 150, height: 75,
arcWidth: 20, arcHeight: 20,
fill: GROOVYBLUE, stroke: ORANGE, strokeWidth: 2
circle centerX: 150, centerY: 100,
radius: 20, fill: RED
svgPath content: """
M248.91 50c11.882-.006 23.875 1.018 35.857 3.13
85.207 15.025 152.077 81.895 167.102 167.102 15.023 85.208-24.944
170.917-99.874 214.178-32.782 18.927-69.254 27.996-105.463
27.553-46.555-.57-92.675-16.865-129.957-48.15l30.855-36.768c50.95
42.75 122.968 49.05 180.566 15.797 57.597-33.254 88.152-98.777
76.603-164.274-11.55-65.497-62.672-116.62-128.17-128.168-51.656-9.108-103.323
7.98-139.17 43.862L185 192H57V64l46.34 46.342C141.758 71.962 194.17
50.03 248.91 50z""",
translateX: -130, translateY: -200,
scaleX: 0.1, scaleY: 0.1,
fill: WHITE, stroke: WHITE, strokeWidth: 2
// ...
 
37

38. Shapes and Animations
polygon(id: 'triangle',
points: [0, -10, 10, 10, -10, 10, 0, -10],
translateX: 70, translateY: 60,
scaleX: 2.0, scaleY: 2.0, fill: BLUE,
onMousePressed: {
if (rotation.status == Animation.Status.RUNNING)
rotation.pause()
else
rotation.play()
}) {
rotation = rotateTransition 2.s, tween: LINEAR, to: -360, cycleCount: INDEFINITE
}
parallelTransition(onFinished: { println "parallel done" }) {
translateTransition 3.s, tween: EASE_OUT, to: 100,
onFinished: { println "translate done" }
scaleTransition 3.s, interpolator: EASE_IN, to: 2.0,
onFinished: { println "scale done" }
}.playFromStart()
} } } }
 
38

39. Shapes
 
39

40. Effects
start {
stage(title: 'Animation Demo', visible: true) {
scene {
rectangle(width: 800, height: 600,
effect: blend(mode: "screen") {
topInput {
imageInput(source: "background-ripples.png", x: 0, y: 0)
}
bottomInput {
color = colorInput(
paint: radialGradient(
center: [0.7, 0.05],
radius: 0.6,
stops: ["#767A7B", "#222222"]
).build(),
x: 0, y: 0,
width: 800, height: 600
)
}
}
)
// ...
 
40

41. Animated Objects
circle id: 'circle', radius: 60,
fill: radialGradient(
center: [0.5, 0.5],
radius: 0.7,
stops: [ORANGE, DARKORANGE]
),
effect: glow(level: 0.5)
noparent {
path(id: 'thePath', translateX: 50, translateY: 5) {
moveTo(x: 100, y: 100)
arcTo(x: 300, y: 100, radiusX: 5, radiusY: 10)
lineTo(x: 600, y: 200)
lineTo(x: 300, y: 500)
arcTo(x: 150, y: 200, radiusX: 50, radiusY: 100)
closePath()
} } } }
pathTransition(10.s,
delay: 100.ms,
node: circle,
path: thePath,
orientation: PathTransition.OrientationType.ORTHOGONAL_TO_TANGENT
).play()
// ...
 
41

42. Animated Background
timeline(cycleCount: -1, autoReverse: true) {
at(4.s) {
change(color, "paint") to(x: 0.3, y: 0.95) tween new CenterInterpolator()
onFinished { println "4 seconds elapsed" }
}
}.play()
}
class CenterInterpolator extends Interpolator {
@Override
Object interpolate(Object startValue, Object endValue, double fraction) {
RadialGradient s = startValue
return new RadialGradient(
s.focusAngle,
s.focusDistance,
EASE_BOTH.interpolate(s.centerX, endValue.x, fraction),
EASE_BOTH.interpolate(s.centerY, endValue.y, fraction),
s.radius,
s.proportional,
s.cycleMethod,
s.stops)
}
@Override protected double curve(double t) { return 0 }
}
 
42

43. Animations
 
43

44. Animations
DEMO
 
44

45. Enhancing GroovyFX
 
45

46. Using custom components
start {
def colors = [BLUE, GREEN, RED, hsb(67, 0.8, 0.91),
rgb(39, 209, 100), rgba(20, 100, 150, 0.60),
delegate."#AA4411"] as ObservableList
stage(title: 'Custom Components Demo', visible: true) {
scene() {
borderPane {
treeView(id: 'tree', showRoot: false, prefHeight: 300) {
treeItem(expanded: true, value: "Root") {
treeItem(value: "one") {
treeItem(value: "one.one")
treeItem(value: "one.two")
treeItem(value: "one.three")
graphic { rectangle(width: 20, height: 20, fill: RED) }
}
treeItem(value: "two") {
treeItem(value: "two.one")
treeItem(value: "two.two")
treeItem(value: "two.three")
graphic { rectangle(width: 20, height: 20, fill: GREEN) }
} } }
// ...
 
46

47. Using custom components
tree.selectionModel.selectionMode = SelectionMode.SINGLE
top {
node new BreadCrumbBar(tree.root),
selectedCrumb: bind(tree.selectionModel, 'selectedItem'),
prefHeight: 30
}
bottom {
container new MigPane("wrap 2", "20[]5[fill, grow]20", ""), {
4.times {
button("Button $it")
}
}
}
}
}
}
}
 
47

48. Using custom components
 
48

49. Own Factories
import groovyfx.javafx.factory.MessageFactory
import org.controlsfx.control.GridView
import org.controlsfx.control.cell.ColorGridCell
groovyx.javafx.GroovyFX.start {
delegate.registerBeanFactory('gridView', GridView)
delegate.registerFactory('message', new MessageFactory())
stage(title: 'Custom Factory Demo', visible: true) {
scene {
stylesheets('groovyfx.css')
vbox {
label('Hello GroovyFX', styleClass: 'big')
gridView(items: [RED, GREEN, YELLOW, SLATEGREY],
prefHeight: 200,
cellFactory: { new ColorGridCell() }
)
message(message: 'This is a message')
}
}
}
}
 
49

50. Own Factories
 
50

51. Think Big
Application Framework
Java, Groovy and Kotlin
JavaFX, Swing, Pivot, Lanterna
MVC, MVVC, PresentationModel
a lot of usefull stuff
http://griffon-framework.org
 
51

52. Questions?
Alexander Klein
Branchmanager
codecentric AG
Curiestr. 2
70563 Stuttgart, Germany
+49 (0) 172 529 40 20
alexander.klein@codecentric.de
www.codecentric.de
blog.codecentric.de
@saschaklein
 
52