Related to my previous post defending Apple and their handling of Java on Mac OS X, Apple has just released tech note 2196 which includes all sorts of goodies for Java developers on the Mac. This document includes settings that let java programs look and feel more like native Mac applications. Because these settings are implemented as client properties, applications that use them can remain completely cross platform while gaining certain behaviors or visual effects on Mac OS that had previously been impossible for java applications.Here’s a screenshot that shows a java app (moneydance) with the unified toolbar, file proxy in the window title. The window below can also be dragged by clicking on the gray background, just like a native app.

Between the new Java UI properties and XCode 3 I couldn’t be happier about using the Mac as a development platform.