Helps create Java applications for mobile, desktop and the web as well as HTML5 apps. It supports a variety of programming languages including Java, JavaScript, C++, HTML, PHP, XML, JPS, etc.
NetBeans IDE (or Integrated Development Environment) is a leading IDE from Oracle Corp, primarily aimed at Java developers. It is suitable for the rapid development/deployment of desktop, mobile and web applications that may be based on Java (i.e. Java SE/Java EE/Java ME and related components such as Swing GUI,JUnit,JBoss etc.),HTML5, PHP & C/C++ platforms. NetBeans is truly comprehensive because it takes care of the complete life-cycle activities involved in a software project. Not only is it easy to type in new source code into its Java-oriented text editor, but also to run and test code, optimize it for best performance,release it under proper version control, and so on. Besides, it is an excellent tool to use in a networked environment. As for example,when a team of programmers works together on a project. The team-members may work from different geographical locations and/or at different times of day. In such case, all workflow related issues will be managed by NetBeans. JUnit, a component of the IDE, helps in writing and running unit test plans. NetBeans can handle practically any number of refactoring tasks without difficulty. If there are gaps between your specific requirements and the IDE, it is very likely that one or more of its over 800 third-party plug-ins will fit such gap(s) and make it a perfect fit for you. The IDE is self-contained, so that, when working in it, you will rarely (if ever) have to switch to any other running program to get your work done.
The latest version of NetBeans 8.0 offers many enhancements and improvements. Java 8 support is the most important among them. New language structures and capabilities have been introduced in Java 8. All new features are supported by NetBeans 8.0. There is a more widespread use of Lambdas in Java 8. Turning to Lambdas helps in overcoming shortcomings of earlier Java code. For example, anonymous inter-classes that use a single abstract method can be converted to Lambdas. Lambda expressions may also be used inside iterative loops (like the 'for' loop) for better processing, and so on.
Another important feature we encounter in NetBeans 8.0 is the ability to develop/deploy Java ME applications directly in embedded devices such as the Raspberry Pi. More powerful HTML5 applications may be developed due to significant enhancements made to angular JS.
There is much more to NetBeans 8.0. The interested reader may explore Maven, that displays module dependencies graphically, JSF Page creation by means of wizards, PrimeFaces code generator, out of the box version control tools Git, Mercurial & Subversion, etc.
v12.0 [Jun 23, 2020]
Apache NetBeans 12.0 adds support for the latest Java language features, integrates new code donations from Oracle for Java Web development, enhances its best of breed Apache Maven tooling, brings multiple enhancements for users of Gradle, includes built-in features for Payara and WildFly for the first time, introduces new out of the box templates for JavaFX, upgrades and extends its PHP editor, provides new dark look and feel options, and includes a wide range of fixes.
All features provided by Apache NetBeans are supported out of the box, without additional plugins needing to be installed, and all for free. Apache NetBeans 12.0 is the first LTS release of NetBeans as a top level Apache project.
- Windows LAF: Fixed tiny or huge GUI font size on various HiDPI configurations, fixed incorrectly sized component icons (radio buttons, checkboxes, project tree expansion handles etc.) on various HiDPI configurations, fixed uneven borders on text components on non-integral HiDPI scaling factors, e.g., 150%, fixed broken tab dragging (window rearrangements) on HiDPI displays.
- Toolbar browser icon take advantage of improved HiDPI scaling.
- Implemented simplified HeapView widget.
- Fixed incorrectly positioned line-width marker (i.e., shown at 82 characters instead of 80 characters), and inaccurate tab alignments. This bug existed at certain editor zoom levels on Windows, Linux, and MacOS, including on non-HiDPI screens.
- Fixed clipped file names in Projects window and Files window on Windows on HiDPI screens.
