JavaBeans
An introduction to component-based
development in general
Introduction to JavaBeans
– Java components
– client-side
Working with the BDK
The beans development life cycle
Writing simple and advanced beans
Copyright © 2001 Qusay H. Mahmoud
Software Components
All engineering discplines use components to
build systems. In SE we rely on line-by-line SD.
We have class libraries
– create objects from class libraries
– we still need to write a large amount of code
– objects are not enough
Copyright © 2001 Qusay H. Mahmoud
Software Components
They are like Integrated Circuit (IC)
components
Over 20 years ago, hardware vendors learned
how to package transistors
Hardware Engineers integrate ICs to make a
board of chips
In SE, we are where hardware engineers were
20 years ago
We are building software routines
Copyright © 2001 Qusay H. Mahmoud
Java Components
Instead of worrying about rotuines, we can buy
routines and use/reuse them in our
applications (assemble applications)
JavaBeans -- portable, platform-independent
component model
Java components are known as beans
A bean: a reusable software component that
can be manipulated visually in a builder tool
Copyright © 2001 Qusay H. Mahmoud
JavaBeans vs. Class Libraries
Beans are appropriate for software
components that can be visually manipulated
Class libraries are good for providing
functionality that is useful to programmers, and
doesn’t benefit from visual manipulation
Copyright © 2001 Qusay H. Mahmoud
JavaBeans Concepts
A component is a self-contained reusable
software unit
Components expose their features (public
methods and events) to builder tools
A builder tool maintains Beans in a palette or
toolbox.
Copyright © 2001 Qusay H. Mahmoud
Concepts...
You can select a bean from the toolbox, drop it
in a form, and modify its appearance and
behavior.
Also, you can define its interaction with other
beans
ALL this without a line of code.
Copyright © 2001 Qusay H. Mahmoud
JavaBean Characteristics
a public class with 0-argument constuctor
it has properties with accessory methods
it has events
it can customized
its state can be saved
it can be analyzed by a builder tool
Copyright © 2001 Qusay H. Mahmoud
Key Concepts
A builder tool discover a bean’s features by a
process known as introspection.
– Adhering to specific rules (design pattern) when
naming Bean features.
– Providing property, method, and event information
with a related Bean Information class.
Properties (bean’s appearance and behavior
characteristics) can be changed at design-time.
Copyright © 2001 Qusay H. Mahmoud
Key Concepts….
Properties can be customized at design-time.
Customization can be done:
– using property editor
– using bean customizers
Events are used when beans want to
intercommunicate
Persistence: for saving and restoring the state
Bean’s methods are regular Java methods.
Copyright © 2001 Qusay H. Mahmoud
Security Issues
JavaBeans are sbject to the standard Java
security model
The security model has neither extended nor
relaxed.
If a bean runs as an untrusted applet then it will
be subject to applet security
If a bean runs as a stand-alone application
then it will be treated as a normal Java
application.
Copyright © 2001 Qusay H. Mahmoud
JavaBeans and Threads
Assume your beans will be running in a multi-
threaded environment
It is your responsibility (the developer) to make
sure that their beans behave properly under
multi-threaded access
For simple beans, this can be handled by
simply making all methods …...
Copyright © 2001 Qusay H. Mahmoud
Beans Development Kit (BDK)
To start the BeanBox:
– run.bat (Windows)
– run.sh (Unix)
Copyright © 2001 Qusay H. Mahmoud
BDK
ToolBox contains the beans available
BeanBox window is the form where you
visually wire beans together.
Properties sheet: displays the properties for the
Bean currently selected within the BeanBox
window.
Copyright © 2001 Qusay H. Mahmoud
MyFirstBean
import java.awt.*;
import java.io.Serializable;
public class FirstBean extends Canvas implements
Serializable {
public FirstBean() {
setSize(50,30);
setBackground(Color.blue);
}
}
Copyright © 2001 Qusay H. Mahmoud
First Bean
Compile: javac FirstBean.java
Create a manifest file:
manifest.txt
– Name: FirstBean.class
– Java-Bean: True
Create a jar file:
jar cfm FirstBean.jar mani.txt FirstBean.class
Copyright © 2001 Qusay H. Mahmoud
Using Beans in hand-written app
Use Beans.instantiate
Frame f;
f = new Frame("Testing Beans");
try {
ClassLoader cl = this.getClass().getClassLoader();
fb =(FirstBean)Beans.instantiate(cl,"FirstBean");
} catch(Exception e) {
e.printStackTrace();
}
f.add(fb);
Copyright © 2001 Qusay H. Mahmoud
Properties
Bean’s appearance and behavior --
changeable at design time.
They are private values
Can be accessed through getter and setter
methods
getter and setter methods must follow some
rules -- design patterns (documenting
experience)
Copyright © 2001 Qusay H. Mahmoud
Properties
A builder tool can:
– discover a bean’s properties
– determine the properties’ read/write attribute
– locate an appropriate “property editor” for each type
– display the properties (in a sheet)
– alter the properties at design-time
Copyright © 2001 Qusay H. Mahmoud
Types of Properties
Simple
Index: multiple-value properties
Bound: provide event notification when value
changes
Constrained: how proposed changes can be
okayed or vetoed by other object
Copyright © 2001 Qusay H. Mahmoud
Simple Properties
When a builder tool introspect your bean it
discovers two methods:
– public Color getColor()
– public void setColor(Color c)
The builder tool knows that a property named
“Color” exists -- of type Color.
It tries to locate a property editor for that type
to display the properties in a sheet.
Copyright © 2001 Qusay H. Mahmoud
Simple Properties….
Adding a Color property
– Create and initialize a private instance variable
private Color color = Color.blue;
– Write public getter & setter methods
public Color getColor() {
– return color;
}
public void setColor(Color c) {
– color = c;
– repaint();
}
Copyright © 2001 Qusay H. Mahmoud
Events “Introspection”
For a bean to be the source of an event, it
must implement methods that add and remove
listener objects for the type of the event:
– public void add<EventListenerType>(<EventListenerType> elt);
– same thing for remove
These methods help a source Bean know
where to fire events.
Copyright © 2001 Qusay H. Mahmoud
Events “Introspection”
Source Bean fires events at the listeners using
method of those interfaces.
Example: if a source Bean register
ActionListsener objects, it will fire events at
those objects by calling the actionPerformed
method on those listeners
Copyright © 2001 Qusay H. Mahmoud
Events “using BeanInfo”
Implementing the BeanInfo interface allows
you to explicitly publish the events a Bean fires
Copyright © 2001 Qusay H. Mahmoud
BeanInfo interface
Question: how does a Bean exposes its
features in a property sheet?
Answer: using java.beans.Introspector class
(which uses Core Reflection API)
The discovery process is named “introspection”
OR you can associate a class that implements
the BeanInfo with your bean
Copyright © 2001 Qusay H. Mahmoud
BeanInfo interface….
Why use BeanInfo then?
Using BeanInfo you can:
– Expose features that you want to expose
Copyright © 2001 Qusay H. Mahmoud
Bean Customization
The appearance and behavior of a bean can
be customized at design time.
Two ways to customize a bean:
– using a property editor
each bean property has its own editor
a bean’s property is displayed in a property sheet
– using customizers
gives you complete GUI control over bean customization
used when property editors are not practical
Copyright © 2001 Qusay H. Mahmoud
Property Editors
A property editor is a user interface for editing
a bean property. The property must have both,
read/write accessor methods.
A property editor must implement the
PropertyEditor interface.
PropertyEditorSupport does that already, so
you can extend it.
Copyright © 2001 Qusay H. Mahmoud
Property Editors
If you provide a custom property editor class,
then you must refer to this class by calling
PropertyDescriptor.setPropertyEditorClass in a
BeanInfo class.
Each bean may have a BeanInfo class which
customizes how the bean is to appear.
SimpleBeanInfo implements that interface
Copyright © 2001 Qusay H. Mahmoud
How to be a good bean?
JavaBeans are just the start of the Software
Components industry.
This market is growing in both, quantity and
quality.
To promote commercial quality java beans
components and tools, we should strive to
make our beans as reusable as possible.
Here are a few guidelines...
Copyright © 2001 Qusay H. Mahmoud
How to be a good bean?
Creating beans
– Your bean class must provide a zero-argument
constructor. So, objects can be created using
Bean.instantiate();
– The bean must support persistence
implement Serializable or Externalizable
Copyright © 2001 Qusay H. Mahmoud
