Best Java IDE?

[Doju]

Right now in class we're using jGRASP, which is a little old and not that elegant (it may have been in its time, but at the moment it's feeling a little old) is there a newer Java IDE I could try out?

 

[wrldwzrd89]

The two Java IDEs I recommend are NetBeans and Eclipse.

If you like your IDE in pure Java, and don't mind a lack of plugins, get NetBeans. If you depend on plugins, Eclipse is better. You may also find, like me, that you need both - NetBeans handles PHP development better than Eclipse does, while Eclipse does better at Java (and Python with the PyDev plugin).

 

[HapCo]

JetBrains IntelliJ IDEA

Hi, I'm working A's a Java developer and are using Eclipse/RAD (on Windows) daily.

I've tried Netbeans and Eclipse on Mac OSX but finally decided to buy a license for JetBrains IntelliJ IDEA (Ultimate) as I found it so much better than the two others.

They have a free community version but for J2EE you need the Ultimate version.

 

[talmy]

I've cast my lot with Netbeans and have found Eclipse confusing with it's modal approach ("perspectives").

By far the best Java IDE I ever used was what I started with over a dozen years ago -- IBM Visual Age for Java. They couldn't maintain it and started the Eclipse project instead, but Visual Age for Java was a one-of-a-kind IDE. I then switched to Borland JBuilder which also went to Eclipse and then Borland died.

I use Netbeans for Qt programming as well as Java and have used it on OS X, Windows, and Linux with complete compatibility.

 

[jamesr19]

Eclipse does the job. It's a bit buggy but it does a better job than the Google Code::Blocks and is the best i've found so far on Mac. The project management feature is very useful and clean

 

[wrldwzrd89]

JAVA IDE's are way too over complicated for someone learning java basically all i need is a notepad that can compile my code.

You want TextWrangler then, a free download from the Mac App Store.

 

[talmy]

Actually if you don't want to use an IDE at all, you will be using the command line to compile, and might was well use vi or emacs to edit.

 

[TurnerMan]

I just finished my 2nd programming class for my BSCS and we used Eclipse - I found it easy to navigate and appreciated the depth in which you can debug applications.