javafx-project-starter

name	javafx-project-starter
description	Scaffold a JavaFX application with baseline structure, module-aware startup wiring, and a first scene.
triggers	["create javafx project","initialize javafx application","new javafx starter","scaffold javafx app"]
compatibility	{"java":"17+","javafx":"21+"}
category	project-setup
tags	["starter","scaffolding","application","stage","scene"]
metadata	{"scope":"repository","maturity":"starter"}
allowed-tools	["view","rg","apply_patch","bash"]

JavaFX Project Starter

Use this skill to initialize a JavaFX application with a clean entry point, a primary stage, and a first scene that can evolve into a larger UI architecture.

Baseline structure

src/main/java/
  com/example/app/
    MainApp.java
    ui/
      MainView.java

Minimal application skeleton

package com.example.app;

import com.example.app.ui.MainView;
import javafx.application.Application;
import javafx.scene.Scene;
import javafx.stage.Stage;

public class MainApp extends Application {

    @Override
    public void start(Stage stage) {
        var root = new MainView();
        var scene = new Scene(root, 960, 640);

        stage.setTitle("JavaFX App");
        stage.setScene(scene);
        stage.show();
    }

    public static void main(String[] args) {
        launch(args);
    }
}

package com.example.app.ui;

import javafx.geometry.Insets;
import javafx.scene.control.Label;
import javafx.scene.layout.BorderPane;

public class MainView extends BorderPane {

    public MainView() {
        setPadding(new Insets(24));
        setCenter(new Label("Hello, JavaFX"));
    }
}

module com.example.app {
    requires javafx.controls;

    exports com.example.app;
    exports com.example.app.ui;
}

Setup notes

• Keep the first scene small and explicit; avoid premature multi-window complexity.
• Prefer extracting views into dedicated classes early instead of building everything in Application.start(...).
• Document whether the project uses plain scene-graph construction, FXML, or a hybrid approach.
• Add only the JavaFX modules the project actually uses, then expand deliberately for FXML, media, WebView, or 3D.

Gotchas

• UI creation belongs on the JavaFX Application Thread.
• If the project is modular, module-info.java must open controller packages when FXML is used.
• Keep build configuration aligned with the chosen JavaFX modules instead of adding everything by default.