Java revolutionized software development 30 years ago. Even with the rise of web apps, there's a bright future for Java desktop application development.

Take a walk on the client side with Qt Jambi -- an alternative to Swing and Java 2D for developing rich, cross-platform desktop-application interfaces.

How to Write Script to Launch a Desktop Application From a Web Browser. Typically, writing programs for Web browsers means that you don't have access to a user's computer and file system.