JavaFX AnimationTimer VS Swing Game Loop

Question

After looking at some code sources out there I noticed Java Swing Games usually create a class implementing Runnable, create a new Thread and set up the game loop in the run() call.

But JavaFX games seem to simply extend from Application and run the game loop in a new AnimationTimer() { ... public void handle() ... }

What gives?

Answer 1

Application is part of JavaFX and therefore can't be used without it and since a JavaFX app relies on the lifecycle of this class and JavaFX requires a class that extends Application, it would be impossible to not use it when creating programs with the library.