Beyond the desktop: Architecting a drop-in replacement for modernising legacy SWT & RCP applications

This talk, presented by Sebastian Sampaoli and Guillermo Zunino from Equo Tech, Inc., focuses on modernizing legacy Java desktop applications through SWT Evolve, an open source drop-in replacement for SWT. The session discusses how this solution enables the transition of Eclipse RCP applications without altering existing Java business logic by employing a binary-compatible library that reroutes SWT API calls to a modern web-based user interface layer. The interoperability bridge between Java and web technologies is highlighted, allowing for integration of HTML, JavaScript, and CSS in existing SWT applications, making gradual migrations and hybrid UI strategies feasible. The speakers also share insights into real-world challenges faced during development, including performance tuning and synchronization between UI layers, while outlining a methodical approach for incremental modernization.