Eclectic3D

The status of Java 3D

With the introduction of JavaFX, and the 'disengagement' of Sun from the Java3D project, one is led to believe that it's a dead API. However, things are more subtle than that...

1. The Java 3D API is mature

And it is the opinion of this writer that Java3D was not meant to be a 'cutting-edge' 3D technology--rather it is a good object-oriented, high-level wrapper around OpenGL (and optionally an adapter  to Windows D3D). To this end, the Java3D approach is well understood. Best of all, it just works.

2. JavaFX 3D isn't ready (where is it?)

The replacement for Java3D will supposedly comme in the form of a JavaFX package, but how long will this take? In theory, this new package will be directly based on the existing Java3D API, with improvements and rewrites of certain areas (like the rendering pipeline). This means that much of the code written for the Java3D API should be reusable.

3. Java3D still has a following

A core group (including this author) still writes and maintains Java3D code and applications, in addition to the Java3D code itself. There are still many popular and active projects based on J3D, like Sweet Home 3D. Of course, books that cover Java3D remain very popular; I'm talking namely about Java3D Programming and Pro Java 6 Game Development.