Here is a quick guide that shows how you can create and compile your first Java app with Net Beans.

I have a number of guides on moving hasting away form CPanel, Setting up VM’s on AWS, Vultr or Digital Ocean along with installing and managing WordPress from the command line. Updating the serves is a pain so I am writing a java app for Windows and OSX to help me manage the server by telnetting in on port 22 and performing routine actions from a button click in Java.

Installing Java and NetBeans IDE

Go to https://netbeans.org/downloads/index.html and click “JDK with NetBeans IDE Java SE bundle”

Download Netbeans and Java SE bundle

Install Netbeans and Java SE bundle

Creating your first GUI Java Application

Create  New Project (Java Application) in NetBeans, Click Next

Name the project and set the main class as “main”

Add a new file, a “Swing GUI Form/JFrame form“.

Name the J Frame Form and click Finish.

Adding GUI elements in NetBeans IDE

In the Net Beans IDE, you can simply drag and drop elements.  I like to move my properties screen to the bottom centre.

Set the panel at the default startup element

Add the following code to the main.java file

> framemain form = new framemain();
> form.setVisible(true);

Compile the App

The app compiles 🙂

Add an action to a button

You can add button actions (events) in the design mode.

Add Hello World alert box code to the button

Add the following to the Panel code file

> public static void infoBox(String infoMessage, String titleBar)
> {
>     JOptionPane.showMessageDialog(null, infoMessage, “InfoBox: ” + titleBar, JOptionPane.INFORMATION_MESSAGE);
> }

Add this to the action (event)

System.out.println(“Hello World”);
> frame1.infoBox(“Hello World”, “Hello World”);

Build

To build right-click on the project and click Clean and Build

The result is an app you can run by double-clicking the jar file.

I hope this helps someone.

Making an OSX APP file from the JAR file

Coming soon

Making a Windows EXE file from the JAR file

Coming soon

I hope this guide helps someone.

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