Case study

Biblio

A modern full-stack library management workstation that refreshes classic desktop applications by pairing a dedicated theme engine with a remote backend. It gives library staff access to a lightning-fast catalog search engine, account history, and automated borrowing statistics right from a polished interface.

Client Repo Backend Repo

Timeline

1 months

Year

2026

Platform

Desktop Application

Architecture & Stack

Java

Used to create a fully object-oriented desktop application in Swing and implement stable business logic.

Spring Boot

Powers the efficient backend REST service, managing all communication with the database via Spring Data JPA.

MySQL

Stores key information: from library book inventories and reader profiles to full borrowing history.

FlatLaf

A great graphic library that completely transformed clunky, classic Swing components into a modern interface with a dark theme.

The Engineering Challenge

Biblio is a comprehensive system created to handle libraries – from indexing books to managing reader accounts and rental registration. I wanted to build a modern desktop client and had the perfect opportunity: I reused a powerful Spring Boot API that I wrote earlier during an internship. Connecting a Java Swing client to an external database via custom HTTP requests was a great experience. To make the program look modern and professional, I implemented the FlatLaf library, replacing standard grey Windows layouts with a polished dark theme, clean typography, and elegant modal screens.

I set a goal to build a modular desktop client that communicates smoothly with an external web service. I successfully reused a stable backend API that I designed from scratch during my professional work placement, implementing custom HTTP request mechanisms within the Java client to handle networking.

Java Swing applications look dated by default, which I couldn't allow. I integrated the FlatLaf library to completely rebuild the visual layer. This required me to manually adjust borders and component rendering layers to achieve a polished, modern dark mode.

Interface Gallery

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