Demonstrate using the System Tray (AWT) to control a JavaFX application.

JavaFXTrayIconSample.java

import javafx.application.*;
import javafx.geometry.Pos;
import javafx.scene.*;
import javafx.scene.control.Label;
import javafx.scene.layout.*;
import javafx.scene.paint.Color;
import javafx.stage.*;

import javax.imageio.ImageIO;
import java.io.IOException;
import java.net.URL;
import java.text.*;
import java.util.*;

// Java 8 code
public class JavaFXTrayIconSample extends Application {

    // one icon location is shared between the application tray icon and task bar icon.
    // you could also use multiple icons to allow for clean display of tray icons on hi-dpi devices.
    private static final String iconImageLoc =
            "http://icons.iconarchive.com/icons/scafer31000/bubble-circle-3/16/GameCenter-icon.png";

    // application stage is stored so that it can be shown and hidden based on system tray icon operations.
    private Stage stage;

    // a timer allowing the tray icon to provide a periodic notification event.
    private Timer notificationTimer = new Timer();

    // format used to display the current time in a tray icon notification.
    private DateFormat timeFormat = SimpleDateFormat.getTimeInstance();

    // sets up the javafx application.
    // a tray icon is setup for the icon, but the main stage remains invisible until the user
    // interacts with the tray icon.
    @Override public void start(final Stage stage) {
        // stores a reference to the stage.
        this.stage = stage;

        // instructs the javafx system not to exit implicitly when the last application window is shut.
        Platform.setImplicitExit(false);

        // sets up the tray icon (using awt code run on the swing thread).
        javax.swing.SwingUtilities.invokeLater(this::addAppToTray);

        // out stage will be translucent, so give it a transparent style.
        stage.initStyle(StageStyle.TRANSPARENT);

        // create the layout for the javafx stage.
        StackPane layout = new StackPane(createContent());
        layout.setStyle(
                "-fx-background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.5);"
        );
        layout.setPrefSize(300, 200);

        // this dummy app just hides itself when the app screen is clicked.
        // a real app might have some interactive UI and a separate icon which hides the app window.
        layout.setOnMouseClicked(event -> stage.hide());

        // a scene with a transparent fill is necessary to implement the translucent app window.
        Scene scene = new Scene(layout);
        scene.setFill(Color.TRANSPARENT);

        stage.setScene(scene);
    }

    /**
     * For this dummy app, the (JavaFX scenegraph) content, just says "hello, world".
     * A real app, might load an FXML or something like that.
     *
     * @return the main window application content.
     */
    private Node createContent() {
        Label hello = new Label("hello, world");
        hello.setStyle("-fx-font-size: 40px; -fx-text-fill: forestgreen;");
        Label instructions = new Label("(click to hide)");
        instructions.setStyle("-fx-font-size: 12px; -fx-text-fill: orange;");

        VBox content = new VBox(10, hello, instructions);
        content.setAlignment(Pos.CENTER);

        return content;
    }

    /**
     * Sets up a system tray icon for the application.
     */
    private void addAppToTray() {
        try {
            // ensure awt toolkit is initialized.
            java.awt.Toolkit.getDefaultToolkit();

            // app requires system tray support, just exit if there is no support.
            if (!java.awt.SystemTray.isSupported()) {
                System.out.println("No system tray support, application exiting.");
                Platform.exit();
            }

            // set up a system tray icon.
            java.awt.SystemTray tray = java.awt.SystemTray.getSystemTray();
            URL imageLoc = new URL(
                    iconImageLoc
            );
            java.awt.Image image = ImageIO.read(imageLoc);
            java.awt.TrayIcon trayIcon = new java.awt.TrayIcon(image);

            // if the user double-clicks on the tray icon, show the main app stage.
            trayIcon.addActionListener(event -> Platform.runLater(this::showStage));

            // if the user selects the default menu item (which includes the app name), 
            // show the main app stage.
            java.awt.MenuItem openItem = new java.awt.MenuItem("hello, world");
            openItem.addActionListener(event -> Platform.runLater(this::showStage));

            // the convention for tray icons seems to be to set the default icon for opening
            // the application stage in a bold font.
            java.awt.Font defaultFont = java.awt.Font.decode(null);
            java.awt.Font boldFont = defaultFont.deriveFont(java.awt.Font.BOLD);
            openItem.setFont(boldFont);

            // to really exit the application, the user must go to the system tray icon
            // and select the exit option, this will shutdown JavaFX and remove the
            // tray icon (removing the tray icon will also shut down AWT).
            java.awt.MenuItem exitItem = new java.awt.MenuItem("Exit");
            exitItem.addActionListener(event -> {
                notificationTimer.cancel();
                Platform.exit();
                tray.remove(trayIcon);
            });

            // setup the popup menu for the application.
            final java.awt.PopupMenu popup = new java.awt.PopupMenu();
            popup.add(openItem);
            popup.addSeparator();
            popup.add(exitItem);
            trayIcon.setPopupMenu(popup);

            // create a timer which periodically displays a notification message.
            notificationTimer.schedule(
                    new TimerTask() {
                        @Override
                        public void run() {
                            javax.swing.SwingUtilities.invokeLater(() ->
                                trayIcon.displayMessage(
                                        "hello",
                                        "The time is now " + timeFormat.format(new Date()),
                                        java.awt.TrayIcon.MessageType.INFO
                                )
                            );
                        }
                    },
                    5_000,
                    60_000
            );

            // add the application tray icon to the system tray.
            tray.add(trayIcon);
        } catch (java.awt.AWTException | IOException e) {
            System.out.println("Unable to init system tray");
            e.printStackTrace();
        }
    }

    /**
     * Shows the application stage and ensures that it is brought ot the front of all stages.
     */
    private void showStage() {
        if (stage != null) {
            stage.show();
            stage.toFront();
        }
    }

    public static void main(String[] args) throws IOException, java.awt.AWTException {
        // Just launches the JavaFX application.
        // Due to way the application is coded, the application will remain running
        // until the user selects the Exit menu option from the tray icon.
        launch(args);
    }
}

@EasyG0ing1 That makes sense, as MacOS is the only of the big three (Windows/Linux/Mac) that I haven't tested on. I will definitely look at incorporating more cross-platform behavior in future releases, I have a MacBook Air sitting around somewhere that I should be putting to use for this project. 😅

I'm glad that you like the library thus far, consider giving it a star or follow if you haven't already, as I plan to add more features in my free time going forward. I plan to add tray-related notifications and the like very soon.

@dustinkredmond

@EasyG0ing1 That makes sense, as MacOS is the only of the big three (Windows/Linux/Mac) that I haven't tested on. I will definitely look at incorporating more cross-platform behavior in future releases, I have a MacBook Air sitting around somewhere that I should be putting to use for this project. 😅

I shouldn't even comment on this ... but ... the pure versatility, reliability and pain free experience of a Mac along with its capabilities that rival Windows ... just ... well ... ok ... no judgments here ... you use what makes you happy ... OF COURSE! :-)

Now why the double click works in Windows and not on a mac ... would be an AWT issue, would it not?

I'm glad that you like the library thus far, consider giving it a star or follow if you haven't already, as I plan to add more features in my free time going forward. I plan to add tray-related notifications and the like very soon.

So here's something I feel pretty stupid about ... I've been using github for years, and I had no idea that you could rate projects ... when I scrolled up, I see the star now ... and I'm sure I've seen it before, but obviously I never paid any attention to what it was about... thanks for educating me on that! lol. I will definitely rate and follow.

Mike

@dustinkredmond

Dustin,

I can't find a way to send IMs in gist so if you would, shoot me an email: [email protected] I wanted to get your opinion on a couple of things that are OT for this forum.

Thanks,

Mike

@EasyG0ing1 Absolutely, I just sent you a message.