Gooey Java in the Jar

So, this quarter at my university, I am learning how to make user-interfaces with the Java programming language's AWT (Abstract Windowing Toolkit) and Swing (AWT's excellent successor) libraries. The current formal name for the class is "Windows Programming," which drives my professor nuts.

Now, the name is a throwback to the time when they actually taught user-interface design in MFC for MS Windows. My professor raves about how horrible it was and I'd have to say I agree [based off a few code samples I have seen..ugh].

Anywho: Graphical User Interfaces are the 'Big Thing(TM)' of course. It is quite easy to set up your own interface in Java. Ah, and the joys that can be made from the stuff used. The nickname dubbed by prior students in this class is "Gooey Java," for the "Java GUI" name. GUI, for Graphical User Interface, is usually pronounced just like 'gooey,' so you can see how this works.

Now, the final tidbit: a .jar is the Java language special specification for a Zip archive. The .jar files can also be set up to allow running an entire program from inside of the 'jar.' Nice, huh? Now, our professor has us 'jar up' our 'gooey Java' code for posting to our online database for grading.

Can you say that you have Gooey Java in the Jar? I certainly can.