Garrison Osteen

If you're lucky enough to be writing a new web app from scratch, it's easy to see how webforJ could benefit you. webforJ simplifies your deployment and provides a UI framework of components that conforms to web standards and user expectations, all while you enjoy the familiar experience of coding in Java and integrating with the Java ecosystem. But what if you already have a Java desktop app, and you need to deploy it to the web? Do you have to rewrite the whole thing, or can you modernize your legacy Java code into a fully functional web app? Look no further, because webforJ has the answer: deploy your existing Java app to the web quickly with Webswing, and gradually modernize it into a true web app with webforJ.

The webforJ FlexLayout component provides an easy and Java-like way to create CSS Flexbox layouts. For an introduction, see the first part of this series, FlexWrap your mind around webforJ's FlexLayout, in which I discuss the general benefits of the webforJ FlexLayout component and the methods that modify the flex container. In this article, I'll dive into the flex items inside the container to see how you can further customize the behavior of your layout.

One of the great benefits of creating web apps is gaining access to the powerful styling and layout capabilities of CSS. In particular, CSS lets you create responsive layouts, allowing your apps to smoothly adjust their layout according to parameters like window size and device type. Apps with responsive layouts look and feel better, and they allow users to use your app in their preferred context and size. With webforJ, you have that power in Java!

But, knowing what to do with that power is another story. Perhaps you're used to carefully laying out forms with a rigid structure, and the prospect of creating designs that are adaptable and dynamic seems intimidating and complicated. So where do you start? With webforJ's FlexLayout!