The name FlatLaf does not quite capture the full capabilities of this excellent LAF library.
It is true that FlatLaf has a more "flat" style by default. However, it is also much easier to customize than traditional Swing LAFs. For this reason, future work on "skinning" NetBeans will likely be done by adjusting FlatLaf configuration files, rather than by introducing new LAFs at the Swing level. You can customize FlatLaf yourself, via Tools->Options->Appearance->FlatLaf->Edit custom properties . See the documentation at https://www.formdev.com/flatlaf/properties-files/ . FlatLaf even has a "theme editor" to help with this, see https://www.formdev.com/flatlaf/theme-editor/ . So you could actually make a non-"flat" theme by configuring FlatLaf in the right way. -- Eirik From: Michael Bien <mbie...@gmail.com> Reply-To: "dev@netbeans.apache.org" <dev@netbeans.apache.org> Date: Sunday, April 20, 2025 at 1:09 PM To: "dev@netbeans.apache.org" <dev@netbeans.apache.org>, Chuck Davis <cjgun...@gmail.com> Subject: Re: 26rc1 FlatLaf Window decorations On 4/20/25 17:46, Chuck Davis wrote: Neil, it was certainly not my intention to be impolite in expressing my opinion. Let me explain. All the hysteria over the "new, modern FLAT" look is quite amusing. FlatLAF is well supported, cross platform, customizable and license compatible. There are not exactly many swing LAFs in that category to pick from so it was in many ways a pragmatic choice. And unless you want to implement custom components and test every UI change N times, in such densely packed applications like NB, supporting only one main option is too, the obvious choice. What I read here is the jump from "i don't like it" to "its nonsense" while also not wanting to invest time or come up with improvements. So lets stay on topic and try to fix the 2 pixel wide dead zone on a close button. -mbien It actually looks like something right out of the late 70s or early 80s when our "big" desktops had 64K memory and something approaching 1GB HHD. It is colorless, lifeless, drab and so retro. I, personally, do not comprehend why it grabs so much attention. Those of us who grew up with FLAT outgrew it. We can only hope it happens again. That is why, in my opinion, FLAT is nonsense. I don't know who developed the NB implementation of FLAT. I have read it is not easy to develop a laf for NB so whoever did it has greater skills than do I. It certainly is not my intention to denigrate that developer's abilities. It will, however, be a sad day if/when FLAT becomes the only available laf for NB. As long as I can, changing the laf is the first configuration change I will make to a new install. On Sat, Apr 19, 2025 at 10:04 AM Neil C Smith <neilcsm...@apache.org<mailto:neilcsm...@apache.org>> wrote: FlatLaf is the only supported look and feel for the IDE, and it has the added benefit that the main developer is also a committer here. Please keep your opinions polite! Neil --------------------------------------------------------------------- To unsubscribe, e-mail: dev-unsubscr...@netbeans.apache.org<mailto:dev-unsubscr...@netbeans.apache.org> For additional commands, e-mail: dev-h...@netbeans.apache.org<mailto:dev-h...@netbeans.apache.org> For further information about the NetBeans mailing lists, visit: https://cwiki.apache.org/confluence/display/NETBEANS/Mailing+lists
