Java 2 JFC Swing Library Released for J#

Microsoft have released a Supplemental UI Library for Visual J#.NET 1.1 which provides much of the functionality described in the Java 2 JFC Swing specification, as well as much of the functionality found in the JDK 1.2 java.util package. Updated versions of the Microsoft Visual J# .NET class libraries are also included.

This release is intended for academic users, and is not supported for commercial use. I think that's understandable in regards to the Swing classes, as it is in Microsoft's interest to steer Java users towards the .NET libraries.

However, the 1.2 java.util package is another thing. That should have been included in a new main Redistributable release with the updated libraries. Well maybe not - strong naming can be a curse as well as a feature.

The bad news is that it's hard to determine where Microsoft's implementation starts and ends. One gets JDK 1.1.4 plus some of this and some of that.

Additionally, we now have an installation mess - one has to install the J# Redistributable on top of .NET, and then install this Supplemental Library on top of that. Just want the latest versions of the Microsoft Visual J# .NET class libraries but not the Supplemental Library? Then you have to install the Supplemental Library, then uninstall it leaving behind the updated libraries.