What are you using to write your code?

[tehhparadox]

I'm new to java programming, and I use notepad++, which is my favourite editor when writing php. However, I do realise this isn't the best editor to use for java, and I would appreciate some advice on it.. Having read this thread I think NetBeans would do the job. I know some people would recommend Eclipse, but that doesn't seem to work on my computer. Is there anything better than Netbeans?

[lilidoss]

hello,
for the moment i'm using net beans IDE : )

[jogep]

I use Eclipse for all of my Java and PHP Projects. Sometime for smaller stuff I also use Notepad++

[coltragon]

i tried eclipse but i was confusing, so i downloaded netbeans and it is a ittle less confusing. When using netbeans IDE i create a new project i have to select main class, class, empty or things like that. I just want to c reate a java file like i always did in notepad++ how to do that?

[JosAH]

i tried eclipse but i was confusing, so i downloaded netbeans and it is a ittle less confusing. When using netbeans IDE i create a new project i have to select main class, class, empty or things like that. I just want to c reate a java file like i always did in notepad++ how to do that?

Dozens of technical authors worked on the extensive help system; you are just another proof that help texts aren't read; press F1 and start reading.

kind regards,

Jos

[coltragon]

i did read them before posting, but you know what the help told me?
it says: Choose the file template that fits the needs for your application.

[JosAH]

i did read them before posting, but you know what the help told me?
it says: Choose the file template that fits the needs for your application.

Next to reading comes experimenting; I highly doubt if penguins will explode in your face or daemons will fly out of your nose when you press a wrong button or select a wrong option or whatever; experiment.

kind regards,

Jos

ps. the 'empty class' option makes sense to me; try it.

[coltragon]

i tried experiencing, i choose main class. but i was unsure if i could make more classes in the same file than. than i asked you, you told me to read the help.

[JosAH]

i tried experiencing, i choose main class. but i was unsure if i could make more classes in the same file than. than i asked you, you told me to read the help.

All public classes need to be stored in their own file anyway, no matter the IDE you're using and again: try it, it won't hurt; try to create two files and stick a public class in it; try to remove the 'public' classifier and try again and see what happens; playing with those things can be fun and you learn from it.

kind regards,

Jos

[coltragon]

when i store all the class files in the same directionary and refer in one file to the other class it worked. But only works with public as you said ;)

[JosAH]

when i store all the class files in the same directionary and refer in one file to the other class it worked. But only works with public as you said ;)

Good; I suspect it's time to study packages a bit; neither NetBeans nor Eclipse are too stupid not to understand them; there's a way to create a new package and create new classes in it. NetBeans or Eclipse will take care of the classpath and all. Have fun and remember: read and experiment.

kind regards,

Jos

[coltragon]

You know? You've changed my way of learning, first I was trying to learn by reading as I do on school. But now I learn by experiencing and testing for learning java that works good for me.

In netbeans when you create a main class it already makes the public static void main(string[] args). That's great. When your coding and something is wrong he shows an red ! Inmediatly. You can easier try until it's good in stead of compile it in dos evrytime

[JosAH]

You know? You've changed my way of learning, first I was trying to learn by reading as I do on school. But now I learn by experiencing and testing for learning java that works good for me.

In netbeans when you create a main class it already makes the public static void main(string[] args). That's great. When your coding and something is wrong he shows an red ! Inmediatly. You can easier try until it's good in stead of compile it in dos evrytime

Yep; that's one part those IDEs can do for you: they (partly) compile the source text while you type; next to syntactical error checking a bit of semantic analysis is done and flags are raised when a failure occurs. I like that technology. IDEs also keep your source files organized: you create packages and classes and interfaces and your IDE takes care of the rest.

But never forget to read first; only if you don't understand (part of) it: experiment until you do understand what that documentation is talking all about. It's a combination of theory and practice. Lots of people don't read and put the blame on their IDEs because they simply don't know how the darn thing works.

kind regards, (and Merry Christmas)

Jos

[gcampton]

I'm new to java programming, and I use notepad++, which is my favourite editor when writing php. However, I do realise this isn't the best editor to use for java, and I would appreciate some advice on it.. Having read this thread I think NetBeans would do the job. I know some people would recommend Eclipse, but that doesn't seem to work on my computer. Is there anything better than Netbeans?

I would suggest staying with notepad++ until you are familiar with the basic language, eg. java up to file IO, exception handling, arraylists, hashtables, treemaps etc. Then when you are ready to move on to GUI programming you can switch to either Eclipse or Netbeans as well, personally I have both installed and use both. I'm sure Eclipse works just fine on your computer, it's just your not competent enough to take the time to learn how to use it, and more importantly understand what is being taught. I think most people need some degree of understanding java before moving onto IDE's such as these, while some may use them from the get go and love it. I think for the general populous there is a good time to start, and that is once the basics are down pat.

I found that when I tried Eclipse as I was just starting to learn java, even reading the manual left me very confused and I found it hard to pickup, but a couple months later once I was familiar with some of the basics it seemed very easy to pick up. 1-2 hours in fact.

edit:
If you would like a java text editor like notepad++ that has the added advantage of a compile/run button I suggest JCreator lite. (it's free but not open source).
Works much like any editor, has syntax coloring, automatic brace completion, java api to view on editor, nice range of preferences to change coloring, tab preferences etc. But looks and feels much like a basic editor.

[MyOnlineChurva]

I'm using the ancient NetBeans. That's what our school is using. And it is very easy for me to use.

[Lil_Aziz1]

Eclipse all the way ;)

[Eranga]

I'm using the ancient NetBeans. That's what our school is using. And it is very easy for me to use.

Cool. So we have another NetBeans user. :):)

[tim]

I'm using the ancient NetBeans. That's what our school is using. And it is very easy for me to use.

Yeay! Go Netbeans! :D I'm using 5.5. The new one's too heavy. :rolleyes: Heavy on resources, that is. ;)

[Eranga]

I don't think 6.7 use much resources like 6.5 tim. Did you try that version in your pc? I'm using it in my desktop having 1GB ram, and working fine.

[adz]

Yeay! Go Netbeans! :D I'm using 5.5. The new one's too heavy. :rolleyes: Heavy on resources, that is. ;)

5.5 bugs with the latest jdk though which I'd assume either you don't use or you don't debug? :S