Creating Your First Java Swing Application Using Notepad

 Welcome back to My Java Journey! Today, we’re going old-school — no fancy IDEs, just Notepad, Command Prompt, and a simple Java Swing app you’ll code by hand.

We’re going to create a tiny desktop app that:
✅ Shows a label
✅ Has a textbox for you to enter your name
✅ Has a button that, when clicked, updates the label to say “Hello [your name]”

Let’s get started!

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🗂️ Step 1: Prepare Your Project Folder

1️⃣ Open File Explorer and create a new folder at:

C:\hello

his is where you’ll save your .java file and compile the program.

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📝 Step 2: Write the Java Code

1️⃣ Open Notepad.

2️⃣ Copy and paste this Java code:

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import javax.swing.*; import java.awt.event.*; public class HelloSwing { public static void main(String[] args) { JFrame frame = new JFrame("Hello Swing"); JLabel label = new JLabel("Enter your name:"); JTextField textField = new JTextField(15); JButton button = new JButton("Submit"); label.setBounds(50, 50, 300, 20); textField.setBounds(50, 80, 150, 20); button.setBounds(50, 110, 100, 30); button.addActionListener(new ActionListener() { public void actionPerformed(ActionEvent e) { String name = textField.getText(); label.setText("Hello " + name + "!"); } }); frame.add(label); frame.add(textField); frame.add(button); frame.setSize(400, 250); frame.setLayout(null); frame.setDefaultCloseOperation(JFrame.EXIT_ON_CLOSE); frame.setVisible(true); } }

3️⃣ Save the file as:

C:\hello\HelloSwing.java

⚙️ Step 3: Compile the Code

1️⃣ Open Command Prompt.

• Press Win + R, type cmd, and press Enter.

2️⃣ Navigate to your project folder:

cd C:\hello

3️⃣ Compile the Java file:

javac HelloSwing.java

✅ If successful, you’ll see no errors, and a HelloSwing.class file will appear in the folder.
▶️ Step 4: Run the Application
In the same Command Prompt window, type:

java HelloSwing

✅ A window should pop up with:
A label saying Enter your name:
A textbox
A button labeled Submit
When you type your name and press the button, the label updates to say:

Hello [your name]!

🔍 Quick Recap
✔️ Create project folder C:\hello

✔️ Write Java Swing code in Notepad

✔️ Compile using javac

✔️ Run using java
You’ve just built your first Java Swing application without an IDE — and that’s a great hands-on way to understand what’s happening under the hood.