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Java Swing does not come with any docking framework, but there are several open source free docking frameworks available. In this article we can see best of the free open-source docking frameworks available.
Netbeans Platform
License: CDDL/GPL |Development: Active |Size: 4.6Mb
The NetBeans Platform is a generic framework for Swing applications. First and foremost, it addresses the requirement of nearly every desktop application to have a set of basic components, such as a menu bar, toolbar, and windowing system. The NetBeans Platform provides all of these out of the box, meaning that you don't need to manually code these, or other basic features, yourself.
Netbeans framework comes with a docking system that allows you to dock your secondary windows (called top components), drag, resize etc. The only problem is that the platform comes with many other things – not just the docking framework.
 
Features:
MultiSplitLayout, Main Editor Area with Multiple panels, Drag and drop panels, Each area can have more than one panel arranged in tabs, Minimize to sidebars, Double click to maximize/zoom in, Sliding Windows on mouse over sidebars, Maximize one area, so that this window occupy the whole space., Supports keyboard shortcuts for important actions (maximize, go to next tab, go to next area),Save and restore the layout., Hide/Show close button(Application level), Toolbars, Built In persistence Support etc… However, it does not support Undocking a Panel to a floating window.
InfoDock
License: GPL |Development: In Active |Size: 2.2 MB
Looks Similar to Netbeans Docking Framework but also supports undocking panels to make them float as separate windows. One striking feature with Info dock is its look and feel that closely resembles native look.
Features
MultiSplitLayout, Main Editor Area with Multiple panels, Panels inside panels, Drag and drop panels, Each area can have more than one panel arranged in tabs, Minimize to sidebars, Double click to maximize/zoom in, Sliding Windows on mouse over sidebars, Maximize one area, so that this window occupy the whole space, Save and restore the layout, Support Undocking a Panel to separate Windows, Native Like Look and Feel, persistence Support.
Eclipse
License: CPL/EPLDevelopment: Active |Size: ?
 
Eclipse like Netbeans is a powerful client application framework. But it supports only SWT.
MyDoggy
License: LGPL |Development: Active |Size: 0.5Mb (Core jars)
MyDoggy is a Java docking framework to be used in cross-platform Swing applications. Unlike Netbeans which is a generic spring framework, MyDoggy is specifically a docking framework. MyDoggy is an IntelliJ Idea like docking framework for managing secondary windows within the main window. MyDoggy allows to move,resize or extract those secondary windows. Also, MyDoggy provides support for content management of the main window. Like Eclipse, MyDoggy supports the concept of "perspective" using mydoggy groups. You can go for MyDoggy if you want to use docking in your existing application.
Features:
MultiSplitLayout, Main Editor Area with Multiple panels, Drag and drop panels, Each area can have more than one panel arranged in tabs, Minimize to sidebars, Double click to maximize/zoom in, Maximize one area, so that this window occupy the whole space, Save and restore the layout,Hide/Show close button etc... However, It does not support sliding panels on mouse over, instead it supports translucent preview tooltips.
Docking Frames
License: LGPL 2.1 |Development: Active |Size: 0.7 Mb
A nice and cool docking framework that looks like eclipse, Supports many usability features like ctrl + shift + e to activate a popup for choosing a dockable to focus. It also supports several docking themes and animations Docks inside a docked panel etc.
 
Features
MultiSplitLayout, Main Editor Area with Multiple panels, Panels inside panels, Drag and drop panels, Each area can have more than one panel arranged in tabs, Minimize to sidebars, Double click to maximize/zoom in, Sliding Windows on mouse over sidebars, Maximize one area, so that this window occupy the whole space, Supports keyboard shortcuts for important actions (maximize, go to next tab, go to next area), Save and restore the layout, Hide/Show close button(Application level), Support Undocking a Panel to separate Windows.
Sanaware
License: GPL/Commercial |Development: Active |Size: 0.3 Mb
Is also one simple docking Framework.
Organize the windows of your application in panels, split panes, tabs, lines, grids and floating windows.
Reorganize the windows of your application by drag and drop.
Minimize and maximize your windows.
Save your workspace.
Organize the toolbars, buttons, and actions of your application.
 
XUI
License: MPL |Development: Active |Size: 1.6Mb
XUI (pronounced Zoo'ey) is an Open Source, Rich Internet Application (RIA) framework for building applications in Java and XML. XUI supports Swing, AWT, SWT and HTML widget sets, letting you code in XML or Java or a mix of both. XUI used the well Model-View-Controller pattern to help separate the setup of user interfaces from business logic and data handling. Like Netbeans XUI is a generic framework that comes with docking support.
Features
MultiSplitLayout, Minimize to sidebars, Double click to maximize/zoom in, Sliding Windows: popup preview windows, Drag and drop panels, The Docking Framework can be used independent of XUI framework.
JDocking
License: CDDL |Development: In Active |Size: 1.3Mb
JDocking is nothing but the docking framework of Netbeans which can be used independent of the Netbeans platform.
Features
Same as Netbeans platform.
Rich Dock
License: GPL |Development: Active |Size: ?
It is a simple docking framework with limited features. When dragging panels, it does not give any outline or feedback(rubberband painting) on where the panel is going to get docked. It is little difficult to use.
Flex Dock
License: CDDL/GPL |Development: Active |Size: 4.6Mb
It is also like Rich Dock. It has a very Basic Set Of features.
Features
MultiSplitLayout and Drag and drop panels
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