Most veteran Java developers experienced their first taste of Java from applets, and by downloading and playing with HotJava, the original Java Web browser, which was also the first big Java application. But development of HotJava ceased long ago, and Java and client-side Web user experience has been an uneasy relationship ever since.

Among the sore spots of the client-side Java Web user experience has been Swing's ability—or lack thereof—to render HTML. Although several Swing components can render basic HTML, modern Web user interfaces incorporate a wealth of technologies, such as CSS, DOM, JavasScript, and client-side plug-ins. While technology to integrate the platform's native browser into Swing applications is being developed through the SwingLabs project (read Chet Haase recent interview with Artima for details), until recently no Swing component could render modern Web UIs with great fidelity.

WebRenderer, a payware product by JadeLiquid, aims to remedy that situation with a Java implementation of the Mozilla rendering engine. According to WebRenderer's documentation, the product has both client and server-side versions, each capable of rendering not only HTML and modern CSS, but also execute JavaScript and even browser plugins.

Because WebRenderer implements the Mozilla renderer, it supports a litany of additional Web standards as well, such as XML, XSL, XSLT, XHTML, and even SSL for securely connecting to sites.

Do you believe that WebRenderer fills a sorely needed void in the client-side developer's toolbox?