The AWT in 1.0 and 1.1

Last updated April 27, 1999.

Welcome to the AWT home page! This page answers these questions:

• What Is the AWT?
• Writing Programs that Use the AWT
• Adjusting to Differences Between 1.0.2 and 1.1

For information about the latest GUI APIs, see the Java Foundation Classes (JFC) home page.

What Is the AWT?

AWT stands for Abstract Window Toolkit. The AWT is part of the Java Foundation Classes (JFC) — the standard API for providing graphical user interfaces (GUIs) for Java programs. Here’s where to get information about AWT features:

Overview of the Java UI

The Java Technology Tutorial‘s overview of UI features in the 1.0 JDK.

Java Development Kit (JDK) 1.1 – AWT Enhancements

Design documents that describe the features added to the AWT in 1.1.

Java Foundation Classes (JFC)

The home page for GUI features that started being added in 1.1, and that will be fleshed out in an upcoming Java Development Kit (JDK) release.

For information about the entire Java API, see the Java API Overview.

Writing Programs that Use the AWT

You can get the latest version of the AWT by downloading JDK 1.1. If you need to write programs that are compatible with 1.0.2, and you don’t intend to use 1.1 features, download JDK 1.0.2.

How to Use the 1.1 Event Handling System

The New AWT Event Model

From The Java Technology Tutorial, explains the new event model and gives example code for 1.1 event handlers. Includes handy tables that map components to the events they can generate and that show all the listener interfaces, their corresponding adapters, and the methods they contain. Both tables link to where you can find more information. Also describes how and when to avoid code clutter by using adapters and inner classes.

JDK 1.1 Event Examples

Part of the Examples of Using the JDK 1.1 AWT.

How to Write Lightweight Components

Lightweight Components

Contains documentation and examples of writing lightweight components. Part of the Examples of Using the JDK 1.1 AWT.

Where to Find Other AWT Programming Information

Examples of Using the JDK 1.1 AWT

Example code. Other other things, includes examples and preliminary documentation of writing lightweight components.

The Java Technology Tutorial

Contains information on using the 1.0 version of the AWT. Is being updated to reflect the most current GUI information.

Workarounds for Known AWT Bugs

How to work around some of the more annoying 1.1 AWT bugs.

1.1 AWT Documentation (aka AWT Enhancements)

The AWT documentation provided as part of the JDK 1.1 release. Includes design specifications for new 1.1 features and reference documentation for the API in the java.awt, java.awt.event, java.awt.image, and java.awt.datatransfer packages.

Adjusting to Differences Between 1.0.2 and 1.1

In 1.1, some new API has been added and some old API has been "deprecated". The following documents will help you learn when and how to convert 1.0.2 code to 1.1, as well as help you write code that works in both releases.

Writing Compatible Programs

How to write programs (especially applets) that work in both 1.0.2 and 1.1.

How to Convert Programs to the 1.1 AWT API

Includes a event conversion table to help you translate your 1.0 event-handling code into the 1.1 scheme.

Deprecated Methods in the 1.1 AWT

What do you do when you want to get rid of deprecation compiler warnings? Consult this document for the recommended replacement for every deprecated AWT method.

Incompatible Changes in the 1.1 AWT API

Lists the ways that 1.0 programs might compile or execute differently under 1.1.

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