Platform-specific desktop features [JEP-272]

The exciting JEP-272 was to create a new public API so that we can write applications with access to platform-specific desktop features. These features include interacting with task bars/docks and listening for application and system events.

The macOS X com.apple.eawt package was an internal API and, starting with Java 9, is no longer accessible. In support of Java 9's new embedded platform-specific desktop features, apple.applescript classes are being removed from the Java platform without replacement.

This effort had several objectives:

• Create a public API to replace the functionality in com.apple.{east,eio}
• Ensure OS X developers do not loose functionality. To this end, the Java 9 platform has replacements for the following packages:
  • com.apple.eawt
  • com.apple.eio
• Provide developers with a near-common set of features for platforms (that is, Windows and Linux) in addition to OS X. The common features include:
  • Login/logout handler with event listeners...