How to Integrate Multi-page Java Desktop Application from Multiple GUI Classes

Question

I am working on a Java Swing desktop application project. The application has about 15 GUI pages. I can use Layered Panes and Tabbed Panes to put all the GUI components in

Answer 1

Your idea of a centralised controller isn't a bad one.

Personally, my first thoughts would be to try a group these separate pages into domain groups (or groups of responsibility). This would give me my first level of control. I'd decide how I would like these domains to be used by the user.

Once you have that working, you can move to the next level, which groups work with each other (if any) & how would you like the user to interact with these

And so forth.

I agree with HovercraftFullOfEels, you don't want to throw lots of windows at users, this just frustrates them, you also don't want them to have to flick between related pages, where the information on one is useful on another.

You might find that you end up with a combination of both. That is, you might need to provide the user with the flexibility to open some pages in frames. This would allow them the ability to decide what information they always need & what information they can flip through.

IMHO