Hello,

Find below of a list of software updates, change notes,
migration information and the current technical roadmap.
I'm going to write about the future of the JGoodies,
license renewals and license upgrades in a separate mail.


UPDATES
The following software updates have been published:
o Binding 1.0
o Forms 1.0.5
o Looks 1.3.1
o UIF 1.4
o UIF Extras 1.4
o Validation 1.0
o Tools and Demos
o Swing Suite 1.4


IMPORTANT NOTE: To avoid duplicate and incompatible library
versions in your classpath, I recommend to remove library
jars from the Java extension directory (<jre-home>/lib/ext).
For more information on that issue see the Looks FAQ #1.7.


CHANGES
The most important change is the overhauled UIF. It
has been split into a smaller stable core, the new UIF,
and a collection of evolving classes, the UIF Extras.
In the past I felt stiffled by the need for binary
and visual compatiblity of several UIF classes that
were primarily intended as reference examples, for example
the DefaultAboutDialog. I couldn't do simple improvements
- even if the vast majority of you would welcome them.
Just because these changes may break the binary code
or layout, or appearance for a minority of API users.

Also the package names of the JGoodies Looks, UIF and
UIF Extras have been changed.

The Forms 1.0.5 is binary compatible with the previous
release. ClearLook has been removed from the JGoodies Looks;
it'll return as a new Debug- or LintLookAndFeel. Since
version 1.0 the Validation library uses a Severity.OK
in empty ValidationResults instead of null.

The Binding library now comes with a small tutorial,
and it is backed by a binding presentation. Martin Fowler
has recently extended his collection of "Patterns for
enterprise application architecture"; he describes the
patterns addressed by the JGoodies Binding and used in
Skeleton (Pro). Find links to the presentation and to
Fowler's patterns in the Binding README.html and JavaDocs.
Some Binding extras have been moved to the library core,
most noticably the PresentationModel (former DefaultModule).

For detailed change information see the RELEASE-NOTES.html
in each product's distribution home directory; an overview
is here: http://www.jgoodies.com/downloads/changes.html


HOW TO MIGRATE TO THE BINDING 1.0
Since the Binding 0.9.20 several classes have been
moved to the Binding library core. I recommend to use
the new core classes and remove all references to local
copies, for example the DefaultModule extra source has
been replaced by the PresentationModel core class.


HOW TO MIGRATE TO THE LOOKS 1.3.x
Just update your references to old package names
and use the new package scheme com.jgoodies.looks.*.
Note that the UIF 1.3.2 requires the Looks 1.2.x.
If you want to mix the old UIF 1.3.2 with the
new Looks 1.3.1, use the UIF sources and update
the references to Looks classes.


HOW TO MIGRATE FROM THE UIF 1.3.2 TO UIF/UIF EXTRAS 1.4
The migration requires three actions: i) update the class
path to use the now splitted libraries. ii) make your code
work with the new package and class names. iii) convert
your code to use the slightly changed API.
Please see the UIF Release Notes for the API changes
and the file REFACTORINGS-1.4.txt for a detailed list
of refactorings performed between 1.3.2. and 1.4.


HOW TO MIGRATE TO THE VALIDATION 1.0
The most important change is to check all listeners
that observe a ValidationResultModel's severity property.
The new version will return Severity.OK instead of null.
Also you must update all references to the property name
constants and method's in ValidationResult and its model.


ROADMAP
I need to balance my resources and will work more on
the "young" libraries Binding and Validation than on
the Forms and Looks who will be primarily maintained.
You may also see the project's issue tracker at java.net.
For example the pending Binding issues are listed here:
http://tinyurl.com/3jp7o

The Binding 1.0.1 will contain minor bug fixes and
new tutorial examples for some Binding Extra sources.
An extended PropertyChangeSupport and more examples
are planned for the 1.0.2 maintenance update.

The Forms 1.0.6 will contain more pitfalls examples.
I plan to ship this Forms build later this summer.
I'm fixing a few minor bugs in the non-visual builders.
The primary change is the set of visual builder tools
that now offer support for the FormLayout and Forms.

The Looks 1.3.2 will be a pure bug fix release. An
improved font handling on non-Windows platforms
and in non-western environments is planned for 1.4.
Althought this has the highest priority it'll take
likely until this summer before it gets done.

The Validation 1.0.1 shall get faster overlay icons
and a richer tutorial. If there's free time I'll add
more examples of advanced input techniques.

The UIF classes will get more and more precise JavaDoc
class and method comments. And I plan to improve
some of the oldest UIF Extras, e.g. the table support.

I want to overhaul and extend the Swing Suite's
example apps. I plan to finish the BookFinder 1.0,
so it becomes a useful tool. I'd like to add a small
new app that combines the Binding with Hibernate.
And all applications shall be converted to follow
the Presentation Model pattern. Likely JDiskReport
will be separated from JPathReport to make it easier
to browse and understand the JDiskReport sources.


DOWNLOADS
The Swing Suite 1.4 is available from the JGoodies
product download page; access is password protected
http://www.jgoodies.com/downloads/products.html
Please see the upcoming business announcement
for details about licenses and differences between
the 1.4 final and the 1.4 Beta2.


YOUR FEEDBACK
If you have questions or suggestions regarding
this mail, please post to the technical JGoodies list,
not to this low-traffic announcement list:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/JGoodies_unmoderated/


Best regards,
Karsten Lentzsch