The only problem is coordinating the command the button sends with what the listener does. Of course, you will copy it and run it. It is the start for many of the programming exercises for this chapter.
actionPerformed()
Here is the complete program:
import java.awt.*; import java.awt.event.*; import javax.swing.*; public class TwoButtons extends JFrame implements ActionListener { JButton redButton ; JButton grnButton ; // constructor for TwoButtons public TwoButtons() { redButton = new JButton("Red"); grnButton = new JButton("Green"); redButton.setActionCommand( "red" ); // set the command grnButton.setActionCommand( "green" ); // set the command getContentPane().setLayout( new FlowLayout() ); getContentPane().add( redButton ); getContentPane().add( grnButton ); // register the buttonDemo frame // as the listener for both Buttons. redButton.addActionListener( this ); grnButton.addActionListener( this ); } public void actionPerformed( ActionEvent evt) { // check which command has been sent if ( evt.getActionCommand().equals( "red" ) ) getContentPane().setBackground( Color.red ); else getContentPane().setBackground( Color.green ); repaint(); } public static void main ( String[] args ) { TwoButtons demo = new TwoButtons() ; WindowQuitter wquit = new WindowQuitter(); demo.addWindowListener( wquit ); demo.setSize( 200, 150 ); demo.setVisible( true ); } } class WindowQuitter extends WindowAdapter { public void windowClosing( WindowEvent e ) { System.exit( 0 ); } }