Request for strategic direction regarding WebView and web integration in JavaFX

[PavelTurk]

Dear OpenJFX Team,

I am writing to ask for clarification regarding the long-term vision for web integration in JavaFX, specifically around WebView and possible alternatives.

At the moment, WebView has several limitations that make it difficult to use in modern applications. For example:
- Missing or outdated support for modern web standards (e.g., image formats such as WebP (JDK-8373085)).
- No reliable way to propagate system dark mode to web content (e.g., via prefers-color-scheme media query).
- Performance constraints compared to modern embedded Chromium solutions.

At the same time, proposals to improve integration with Chromium Embedded Framework (CEF), particularly regarding faster rendering paths instead of Canvas-based rendering marked as not planned (JDK-8375663).

As it stands today, JavaFX does not provide a complete and production-ready solution for modern web integration. WebView is not feature-complete enough to serve as a lightweight but fully capable embedded browser, and the use of third-party solutions like CEF is not supported at the platform level. This effectively leaves developers without an officially supported path forward. As a result, JavaFX developers are falling into such despair that they are even resorting to injecting bytecode into JavaFX - https://www.reddit.com/r/JavaFX/comments/1qf3wao/nfxbrowser_remember_the_canvasimage_surface_i/

This creates uncertainty for developers who need reliable web integration in production applications. Could you please clarify what the intended strategy is for web support in JavaFX? From the outside, several possible directions seem conceivable:

1. Evolve WebView into a more modern and fully usable lightweight browser component.
2. Provide better official support or extension points for integrating Chromium/CEF with performant rendering.
3. Explicitly state that JavaFX does not aim to support modern web embedding beyond the current WebView capabilities.
4. Another direction that the team envisions.

Even a clear statement that certain improvements are not planned would be extremely valuable, as it would allow developers to make informed architectural decisions.

Best regards, Pavel