Oracle has released new Java Standard Edition 7 Update 6 (Java SE 7 Update 6) along with JavaFX 2.2 and the first release of JavaFX Scene Builder.
The company now offers full availability of Java SE 7 Update 6 on Mac OS X, including Java Runtime Environment (JRE), Java Development Kit (JDK), JavaFX 2.2 client platform and JavaFX Scene Builder.
Java SE 7 Update 6 introduces a JDK for Linux on ARM v6 and v7 to address "general purpose" ARM systems and for development platforms, such as Raspberry Pi.
The new JDK for Linux on ARM includes Java Access Bridge by default to provide direct communication with assistive technology application and will be available under Oracle Binary Code License. It is now supported and recommended for use with Oracle Fusion Middleware.
JavaFX 2.2 introduces full Linux support for both x86 and x64 systems and allows developers to bundle the JRE and JavaFX runtime libraries with JavaFX applications.
It also includes multi-touch support that allows for advanced application functionality from two or more points of contact on touch screen displays and touch pads.
JavaFX Scene Builder 1.0 is a visual layout tool for the JavaFX platform that enables users to design user interface (UI) screens by dragging and positioning components from a palette onto a scene.
Key features of the new release include clean separation of application logic, UI layout, "look and feel", through automatically generated FXML code and Cascading Style Sheets (CSS).
It also features integrated development workflow with the NetBeans integrated development environment (IDE), as well as compatibility with other Java IDEs and offers visualisation of changes without requiring any code compilation, said the company.
Oracle Oracle Fusion Middleware and Java Products senior vice president Hasan Rizvi said the company continues to expand its support for the Java platform and now consumers and developers can access to the new Java SE features and security updates across all operating systems: Windows, Linux, Solaris and Mac OS X.
"We’re also focused on improving the client Java experience with the release of JavaFX Scene Builder and bundling JavaFX with Java SE to provide better performance and improved usability for JavaFX applications, without having to install and maintain a separate product," Rizvi said.
