Since Java 11, JavaFX is not included in the JDK anymore. Here’s how to download it and set it up on both Windows & MacOS!

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Note: JDK version earlier than 11 will throw error Unrecognized option: --module-path.

Windows

Make sure you have Java 11+ installed with java -version:

> java -version

MacOS

Prerequisites

Make sure you have Java 11+ installed with java -version:

$ java -version
java version "11.0.7" 2020-04-14 LTS
Java(TM) SE Runtime Environment 18.9 (build 11.0.7+8-LTS)
Java HotSpot(TM) 64-Bit Server VM 18.9 (build 11.0.7+8-LTS, mixed mode)

If you have a lower version, you may download the JDK 11 from https://www.oracle.com/java/technologies/javase-jdk11-downloads.html

MacOS Java default installation path: /Library/Java/JavaVirtualMachines/jdk-11.0.7.jdk

JavaFX download

  • Get JavaFX 11 from https://gluonhq.com/download/javafx-11-0-2-sdk-mac, and unzip it into ~/java/javafx-sdk-11.0.2.
  • Then, create an ENV var to store the JavaFX path export PATH_TO_FX=/Users/me/java/javafx-sdk-11.0.2/lib
  • Finally, run the HelloWorld JavaFX app from OpenJFX: 
    $ curl https://raw.githubusercontent.com/openjfx/samples/master/HelloFX/CLI/hellofx/HelloFX.java -o HelloFX.java
$ javac --module-path $PATH_TO_FX --add-modules javafx.controls HelloFX.java
$ java --module-path $PATH_TO_FX --add-modules javafx.controls HelloFX

Eclipse setup

  • Open Eclipse, Help>Eclipse Marketplace>e(fx)clipse 3.6.0

  • Eclipse>Preferences>User Libraries>New>"JavaFX">Add external JARs> Add all JARs from javafx-sdk-11.0.2/lib

  • Right click your project>Build Path>Add libraries>JavaFX
  • Run>Run Configurations>Arguments>VM Arguments> --module-path /Users/me/java/javafx-sdk-11.0.2/lib --add-modules javafx.controls,javafx.fxml

NB: do not use $PATH_TO_FX in Eclipse VM Arguments as it won’t work and will yield

Error occurred during initialization of boot layer
java.lang.module.FindException: Module javafx.controls not found