Example of how to use JInput to read the state of the POV hat switch.

HatSwitchSnippet.java

/*
 * Initialize JInput and get reference to `controller`
 * Implementing this is left as an exercise to the reader
 */
initializeJInput();

String[] directions = { "NW", "N", "NE", "E", "SE", "S", "SW", "W" };

EventQueue eventQueue = controller.getEventQueue();
Event event = new Event(); // reused by the EventQueue
Component hatSwitch = controller.getComponent(Component.Identifier.Axis.POV);
float oldValue = 0.0f; // hat neutral state = 0.0

while (controller.poll())
{
    /*
     * Normal range is from 0 to 1. convert to 0 to 8.
     */
    float value = hatSwitch.getPollData() * 8;
    
    if (value != oldValue) // only operate on changes in component value
    {
        oldValue = value; // update old value
        
        // make sure the value is an integer in a valid range
        if (value % 1 != 0 && value >= 0.0f && value <= 8.0f)
        {
            System.err.println("Invalid value: " + value);
        }
        else if (value != 0.0f) // if value is a valid index
        {
            System.out.println(directions[(int)value - 1]);
        }
    }
    
    try
    {
        Thread.sleep(20); // don't poll constantly
    }
    catch (InterruptedException e)
    {}
}