Java TimerTick event for game loop

Question

I tried making a game loop in Java using the Timer from java.util.Timer. I am unable to get my game loop to execute during the timer tick. Here is an example of this issue.

Answer 1

Since this is a Swing application, don't use a java.util.Timer but rather a javax.swing.Timer also known as a Swing Timer.

e.g.,

private static final long serialVersionUID = 0L;
private static final int TIMER_DELAY = 35;

in the constructor

  // the timer variable must be a javax.swing.Timer
  // TIMER_DELAY is a constant int and = 35;
  new javax.swing.Timer(TIMER_DELAY, new ActionListener() {
     public void actionPerformed(ActionEvent e) {
        gameLoop();
     }
  }).start();

and

   public void gameLoop() {
      button.setLocation(button.getLocation().x + 1, button.getLocation().y);
      getContentPane().repaint(); // don't forget to repaint the container
   }