XDEV Software GmbH is a German company focused on developing Java tools and open-source frameworks as well as providing services for software projects.
xdev.softwareXDEV Software GmbH is a company specializing in software development tools for Java developers. One of their flagship products, RapidClipse, a low-code visual Java IDE based on Eclipse®, is a streamlined tool for building, testing, and deploying modern web applications from scratch or migrating existing ones to the web.
To enable their users to design modern interfaces, the Team decided to extend RapidClipse with an easy-to-use GUI builder based on Vaadin Web Components.
That’s where XDEV faced the challenge of finding a reliable web browser component that could offer an instant preview of the applications being developed directly within the IDE.
The search for a suitable solution was not straightforward. Initially, the team experimented with the built-in SWT web view, JCEF (Java Chromium Embedded Framework), and some commercial alternatives. They showed potential, yet lacked the functionality and stability required for RapidClipse.
After evaluation of options, XDEV decided to implement JxBrowser as the web browser component for RapidClipse. This choice was driven by several key factors that aligned with their requirements.
Thanks to the underlying Chromium™ engine, JxBrowser proved to excel at processing and rendering modern HTML UI of the applications being built with the IDE.
Another significant advantage of the library was its Java–JavaScript bridge which was used for displaying the dynamic parts of the GUI being built.
Another compelling aspect of JxBrowser was its commitment to regular updates. This update policy aligned well with XDEV’s need for a maintained solution, ensuring that any potential issues or security vulnerabilities could be addressed promptly. That, and the timely technical support provided by the JxBrowser developers added to the browser component swift implementation as a part of the RapidClipse IDE.
Integrating JxBrowser into RapidClipse enabled the creation of a real-time preview feature. This allowed developers to see immediate results of their code changes in a preview window within the IDE, significantly enhancing the development experience.
As a result, RapidClipse provides a lively community of Vaadin developers with a comprehensive IDE, supporting their creativity in creating and modernizing Java-based web applications in a cross-platform environment.
