SWT
SWT (Standard Widget Toolkit) is a Java-based graphical widget toolkit for building desktop applications with native look and feel across multiple platforms, such as Windows, macOS, and Linux. It provides a set of UI components, like buttons and text fields, that directly interface with the operating system's native widgets, ensuring high performance and platform consistency. Originally developed by IBM and now part of the Eclipse Foundation, it is commonly used in Eclipse-based applications and other Java desktop projects.
Developers should learn SWT when building cross-platform desktop applications in Java that require a native appearance and performance, as it leverages OS-specific widgets for a seamless user experience. It is particularly useful for tools, IDEs (like Eclipse), and enterprise software where platform integration and responsiveness are critical. Use cases include developing standalone desktop apps, plugins for Eclipse, or any Java application needing a lightweight, native UI alternative to Swing.