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by Wolf Paulus.
Original Post: Swixml: 1st runner-up
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XUL: XML-Based User Interface Language, or XML User Interface Language, or Extensible User Interface Language
I think the revolutionary idea behind XUL is not so much the way a Graphical User Interface is described but more the late binding. The GUI generating engine (so-called XUL motor) parses the GUI describing XML document at runtime and eventually renders the UI.
Traditionally, GUIs have been developed with RAD or wizard-style tools that generate mostly un-maintainable source-code at compile time. By interpreting the XML document at runtime and instantaneously instance the GUI Widgets (like dialogs, buttons, etc.), XUL doesn't require a code-generating step but instead offers all the advantages of late binding.
Commonly, using XUL doesn't free the software developer from knowing the underlaying GUI toolkit well but it it reduces the amount of repetitive and sometimes error-prone and often complex GUI related code.
Amazingly, XUL is not a W3C standard nor is it supported by the W3C or any other industry consortium or company. It's pushed by developers around the globe, allowing to break from platform dependencies and develop rich, dynamic user interfaces in record time.
Swixml is an open-source project that I started in January 2003. The idea was to create a small and fast XUL motor that would work well for JFC/Swing. Today, Swixml differentiates itself from other XUL motors by focusing completely on javax.swing. Programmers who know Swing already can immediately start writing descriptors.
Swixml is faster since no additional layers had to be added on top of the Swing objects.
Swixml is smaller. Despite the fact that the swixml jar file is only about 50 Kbytes in size, almost all Swing objects and Widgets are supported.
The XUL-Alliance, an at times controversial Website, trying to cover all XUL related developments worldwide, hosted a poll during the month of December asking the community to vote for XUL Motor of the Year 2003.
Swixml was the 1st runner-up, beaten only by the Mozilla XUL-Project, a platform-dependant XUL motor.
Many Thanks
After putting much effort into something, it's really nice to hear from people who like it.
If you like and use Swixml, please feel free to drop a review or a comment.
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