SunLab

Overview

SunLab is a JavaFX application that calculates and visually displays the positions and phases of the sun and moon. It utilizes nearly all features of the commons-suncalc library, available on GitHub and Maven.

Features

SunLab provides the following features, accessible via tabs in the application:

• Daily Information
• Calendar
• Moon Phases
• Moon Parameters
• Solar Parameters
• Sun and Moon Times
• Big Data
• Sunrise and Sunset
• Altitude and Local Time
• Altitude and Azimuth
• Earth-Moon Distance
• Earth-Sun Distance
• Sun Position Diagram (Cartesian)
• Sun Position Diagram (Polar)

Important Note

The accuracy of the calculated data depends on geographic information, requiring an internet connection to set the location using OpenStreetMap. To select a location, right-click on the map within the application.

Prerequisites

To run SunDowner, ensure the following are installed:

• Java SDK: Java 24
• JavaFX SDK: JavaFX
• SceneBuilder: Gluon SceneBuilder (for GUI development, optional for running)
• Apache NetBeans 27 IDE: NetBeans 27 (optional, used for development)

Installation

1. Download the JavaFX SDK: Extract it to a known location (e.g., C:\javafx-sdk-24).
2. Ensure Java 24 is installed: Verify the java command is accessible in your system's PATH.
3. Obtain the SunDowner JAR: Place the Sun-1.0.0.jar file in a directory of your choice.

Running the Application

Windows

Use the provided batch file to launch SunDowner:

1. Save the following as run_sundowner.bat in the same directory as Sun-1.0.0.jar:

@echo off
REM Batch file to launch the SunDowner JavaFX application

REM Set the path to the SunDowner JAR file
SET JAR_FILE=Sun-1.0.0.jar

REM Set the path to the JavaFX SDK lib folder (update to match your JavaFX SDK location)
SET JAVAFX_LIB=C:\path\to\javafx-sdk-24\lib

REM Specify the main class (update if different or remove if specified in the JAR's manifest)
SET MAIN_CLASS=your.main.Main

REM Run the SunDowner application with required JavaFX modules
java --module-path "%JAVAFX_LIB%" --add-modules javafx.controls,javafx.fxml,javafx.swing -jar %JAR_FILE% %MAIN_CLASS%

REM Pause to keep the window open for debugging (optional, remove if not needed)
pause

2. Update the JAVAFX_LIB variable to point to your JavaFX SDK lib folder (e.g., C:\javafx-sdk-24\lib).
3. If the main class is not specified in the JAR's manifest, update MAIN_CLASS to the correct fully qualified class name (e.g., your.main.Main). Otherwise, remove %MAIN_CLASS% from the java command.
4. Double-click run_sundowner.bat or run it from the command prompt.
5. Ensure an internet connection is available for OpenStreetMap functionality.

Linux/macOS

For non-Windows systems, create a shell script (e.g., run_sundowner.sh):

#!/bin/bash
# Script to launch the SunDowner JavaFX application

# Set the path to the SunDowner JAR file
JAR_FILE=Sun-1.0.0.jar

# Set the path to the JavaFX SDK lib folder (update to match your JavaFX SDK location)
JAVAFX_LIB=/path/to/javafx-sdk-24/lib

# Specify the main class (update if different or remove if specified in the JAR's manifest)
MAIN_CLASS=your.main.Main

# Run the SunDowner application with required JavaFX modules
java --module-path "$JAVAFX_LIB" --add-modules javafx.controls,javafx.fxml,javafx.swing -jar $JAR_FILE $MAIN_CLASS

1. Update the JAVAFX_LIB and MAIN_CLASS as needed.
2. Make the script executable: chmod +x run_sundowner.sh.
3. Run the script: ./run_sundowner.sh.

Troubleshooting

• JavaFX Path Error: Ensure the JAVAFX_LIB path points to the correct JavaFX SDK lib folder.
• Missing Modules: If the application fails to start, add required JavaFX modules (e.g., javafx.graphics) to the --add-modules flag.
• Internet Connection: Verify an active internet connection for OpenStreetMap functionality.
• Main Class Not Found: Confirm the MAIN_CLASS variable matches the application's main class or is specified in the JAR's manifest.