Enter the third dimension
Three-dimensional computer graphics have fascinated me ever since I took a computer graphics course back in the mid-1980s. This Java Fun and Games installment shares with you my fascination by presenting a Swing component for loading/displaying and adjusting the viewability of 3D models, by presenting a Swing applet that lets you play with this component, and by presenting a component-based 3D graphics tutorial. Note: You can now build and run the applets presented in Java Fun and Games using DevSquare, an online development tool. Read the user guide available in Resources to get started.
Jeff Friesen, August 2006

Simulate fuzzy phenomena with particle systems
Computer graphics relies on polygon-based techniques to model and render classical geometry (cubes, cones, and other solids). The geometry of natural phenomena, such as fire, requires a different technique—particle systems. This Java Fun and Games installment introduces you to particle systems and presents particle system software with three examples that simulate explosion rings, fireworks explosions, and vapor trails. Note: You can now build and run the applets presented in Java Fun and Games using DevSquare, an online development tool. Read the user guide available in Resources to get started.
Jeff Friesen, May 2006

Capture the screen
This Java Fun And Games installment presents a utility for capturing the primary screen device's contents via Java's Robot class, and saving either the entire screen capture or a selected portion of that screen capture to a jpeg file. Note: You can now build and run the applets presented in Java Fun and Games using DevSquare, an online development tool. Read the user guide available in Resources to get started.
Jeff Friesen, April 2006

Square off
It's about time that Java Fun and Games introduced you to a computer game. In this installment, Jeff Friesen presents his Java-based game called Squares. Note: You can now build and run the applets presented in Java Fun and Games using DevSquare, an online development tool. Read the user guide available in Resources to get started.
Jeff Friesen, March 2006

Travel through time with Java
Time travel fascinates many people. You do not need a wormhole (or some other exotic device) to travel through time. This unusual installment of Java Fun and Games presents a simple computer-based technique for accomplishing time travel. Although almost any computer language could be used to implement this technique, Java offers two important capabilities that simplify the technique's implementation. Discover these capabilities as you get ready to visit the past or one of many possible futures. Note: You can now build and run the applets presented in Java Fun and Games using DevSquare, an online development tool. Read the user guide available in Resources to get started.
Jeff Friesen, February 2006

Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!
The holiday season has arrived. This Java Fun and Games installment celebrates the season by presenting an applet that animates a gentle snowfall while playing a Christmas classic, "Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!" It also challenges you to fix a small problem with this applet. (900 words; December 26, 2005) Note: You can now build and run the applets presented in Java Fun and Games using DevSquare, an online development tool. Read the user guide available in Resources to get started.
Jeff Friesen, December 2005

Kaleidoscopes
Tube-based kaleidoscopes enchant people through the symmetric and colorful designs that are revealed as their tubes rotate. Many computer programs, including Java applets, have been created to reveal this symmetry. After identifying one of these applets, this installment of Java Fun and Games introduces two more kaleidoscope applets that you can play with.
Jeff Friesen, September 2005

Checker dragging
Creating a checkers game presents many challenges. This installment of Java Fun and Games focuses on the challenge of dragging a checker around a checkerboard. It emphasizes the elimination of screen flicker.
Jeff Friesen, August 2005

Plug into Java with Java Plug-in, Part 2
This article is the sequel to Jeff Friesen's previous article on Java Plug-in, " Plug into Java with Java Plug-in" (JavaWorld, June 1999). It focuses on one of the more recent Java Plug-ins in the context of the Firefox Web browser. In this article, you learn how to access Java Plug-in from Firefox. You also learn about the Java Plug-in Document Object Model (DOM), applet state persistence, and cookies. In addition, you study applets, run from Firefox, that reinforce those topics. But that's only the beginning. Have you ever wanted to explore how Firefox communicates with Java Plug-in (behind the scenes)? Read on to find out.
Jeff Friesen, June 2005

Create and print multilingual PDF documents on the client
This article explains how you can use FOP (Formatting Objects Processor) to convert XML data to a PDF document, which can then be printed on a user's default printer. Author Manoj Nair also covers dynamically creating and printing multilingual PDF documents. This article is aimed at developers who are comfortable with XML, Extensible Stylesheet Language Transformations, FOP, WebLogic, and Java.
Manoj Nair, March 2005

Talk with me Java
It is easy to make a Java applet and JavaScript code talk with each other. This article explores the mechanisms used to make bidirectional communications happen. In addition, you discover which of the Netscape Navigator and Internet Explorer Web browsers provides a better communications infrastructure.
Jeff Friesen, June 2004

Help, Pogo no longer works!
April 19, 2002
Tony Sintes, April 2002

Applications, applets, and hybrids
Java 101 is evolving. Under new authorship, this column will continue to take you on an incredible journey into the world of Java -- a journey that you will not soon forget! This transition article establishes our bearings and sets sail to the land of applications, applets, and hybrids (an unusual category of Java programs). For this month's homework and for additional material of relevance to this article, visit the associated study guide.(4,000 words)
Jeff Friesen, November 2000

Study guide: Applications, applets, and hybrids
Welcome to the Java 101 study guide. This guide complements " Applications, Applets, and Hybrids." It provides a glossary of terms specific to that article, new homework, Jeff Friesen's answers to questions from your fellow students, additional examples, and miscellaneous notes and thoughts. The Java 101 study guides are evolving documents -- they change periodically. For example, if you submit a question long after Jeff posts the relevant study guide, your question and his answer will eventually make its way onto that guide. Furthermore, from time to time, he will post additional examples and other material that clarifies an article's topic, so be sure to revisit the study guides periodically.
Jeff Friesen, November 2000

Sun investigates Java security flaw in Netscape browser
August 8, 2000 -- Sun Microsystems is investigating a security flaw that has popped up involving the use of Java in Netscape's Navigator browser.
Stephanie Sanborn and Brian Fonseca, August 2000

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