The simplest “dead simple” program would be something like this:

public class DeadSimple extends Application {
    @Override
    public void start(Stage primaryStage) throws Exception {
        primaryStage.setScene(new Scene(new Label("Hello World")));
        primaryStage.show();
    }
}

That doesn’t include any library management or build stuff, but I created it in a grab-bag project I have for examples and testing out code snippets and it does run.

JavaFX has the idea of a Stage - which corresponds to a Window, and a Scene - which is the wrapper for the content. The Scene contains an object which extends a generic layout class called “Region”. In this case, I’m using “Label”, which is technically a Region even though you rarely treat it like one.

So this program extends the standard “Application” class, which is the starting point for all JavaFX programs, and implements the “start()” method, which is passed the default Stage. Then it creates a Scene, with a Label as its content and puts it in the Stage. Then “stage.show()” tells it to display it on the screen.

IntelliJ knows enough give me a “Run” option for the class without having to specify a “main()” method.

Everything else follows from there.

Feel free to ask more questions.

Sure, here is a simple “Hello, World!” program written in JavaFX. It simply creates a small window that says “Hello, World!”:

import javafx.application.Application;
import javafx.scene.Scene;
import javafx.scene.control.Label;
import javafx.stage.Stage;

public class HelloWorld extends Application {

    @Override
    public void start(Stage primaryStage) {
        Label helloWorldLabel = new Label("Hello, World!");
        Scene scene = new Scene(helloWorldLabel, 200, 100);
        primaryStage.setScene(scene);
        primaryStage.show();
    }

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

}

Now, let’s break it down:

1. Import Statements: These lines import the necessary classes from the JavaFX library that will be used in this program.

import javafx.application.Application;
import javafx.scene.Scene;
import javafx.scene.control.Label;
import javafx.stage.Stage;

2. Class Declaration: This line declares a new public class called HelloWorld that extends the Application class. The Application class is part of JavaFX and serves as the base class for creating desktop applications.

public class HelloWorld extends Application {

3. Start Method: This is the main entry point for all JavaFX applications. It is called when the program is launched. The Stage object, primaryStage, is the main top-level container.

@Override
public void start(Stage primaryStage) {

4. Label Creation: This line creates a new Label object, helloWorldLabel, and sets its text to “Hello, World!”.

Label helloWorldLabel = new Label("Hello, World!");

5. Scene Creation: This line creates a new Scene object, scene, adds helloWorldLabel to it, and sets its width to 200 pixels and its height to 100 pixels.

Scene scene = new Scene(helloWorldLabel, 200, 100);

6. Setting the Scene: This line sets the primaryStage’s scene to scene.

primaryStage.setScene(scene);

7. Displaying the Stage: This line shows the primaryStage, which makes the GUI visible.

primaryStage.show();

8. Main Method: This is the entry point for the Java program and is the first method that gets executed when the program starts. It calls the launch method, which then calls the start method.

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

Learning a new technology, especially for UI, can indeed seem intimidating at first, but with a structured approach, you can certainly master JavaFX. Here’s a roadmap you can follow:

1. Prerequisites: Ensure you have a solid foundation in core Java before diving into JavaFX.

2. Setup Development Environment: Install the latest version of Java (JDK). Install a good Integrated Development Environment (IDE). IntelliJ IDEA is a good option, but Eclipse can work well too. Install JavaFX SDK: Download it from Gluon’s JavaFX page, and add it to your project’s libraries.

3. Learn JavaFX basics: Understand the basic structure of a JavaFX application. The previous example can help here. Learn about the Application class and the lifecycle of a JavaFX application. Understand the JavaFX Scene Graph - Stage, Scene, and Nodes. Learn about the basic UI components like Button, Label, Textfield, etc.

4. Layouts and Event Handling: Understand different types of layout managers in JavaFX (like HBox, VBox, GridPane, BorderPane etc.), and when to use which. Learn how to handle user events (like button clicks).

5. Styling with CSS: JavaFX allows you to style your UI with CSS. Learn how to apply styles to your components.

6. FXML and Scene Builder: FXML is an XML-based language that enables you to design the user interface separate from the application logic. This improves the separation of concerns. Scene Builder is a visual layout tool that lets you design UIs without needing to write FXML code manually.

7. Advanced Topics: Once you’re comfortable with the basics, dive into more complex UI controls like TableView, TreeView, etc. Learn about JavaFX properties and bindings. Explore JavaFX animations and transformations.

8. Real-World Projects: As with any technology, the best way to learn is by doing. Try to build a few projects on your own. Start small, with something like a calculator or a simple form.

Resources: The JavaFX official documentation is a good starting point. MOOCs: Sites like Coursera, Udemy, etc. have courses on JavaFX. Books: “JavaFX For Dummies” is a good start for beginners. For a deeper dive, consider “Pro JavaFX 8” and “Mastering JavaFX 10”. Tutorials: There are many free tutorials available online, on websites like TutorialsPoint, or video-based tutorials on YouTube.

Remember, practice and persistence are key. Happy coding!