What are you using to write your code?

[Eranga]

I usually use Eclipse and Notepad++ for something smaller, just so I can use the syntax highlighter. :)

Eclipse, because I`m pretty new to Java and corrects my stupid mistakes. :D

Our members are ready to help you any time. Clearly ask your question with an attempt you can have. Please keep in mind that, no one here wants to do your homework.

[mwildam]

I usually use Eclipse and Notepad++ for something smaller, just so I can use the syntax highlighter. :)

Eclipse, because I`m pretty new to Java and corrects my stupid mistakes. :D

FYI: NetBeans does also correct the "stupid" mistakes. I tried Eclipse and NetBeans and for a beginner (like me) NetBeans could be the better choice.

In my tests with both platforms I found that for distribution of your project using Eclipse you should know about ant. NetBeans did everything automatically correctly so that I had no problems redistributing my project to get it run on a completely different machine without either knowing that ant exists.

[mwildam]

I prefer the NetBeans IDE for development in Java.
[...]
I don't use the GUI-designer at all, don't like losing control of my code. That's something I don't like...

Trying both NetBeans and Eclipse my experience - and the panic of loosing control was only given using Eclipse because it happened that it messed something up. Further Visual Editor in Eclipse does produce a very polluted code. NetBeans is much better and produces clean code that doesn't get distroyed when switching between Gui design and code view.

In my opinion the general fear of using Gui-Designer comes from the fact that in the past it was very buggy (I tested Eclipse and Visual Editor about 2 years ago then again about 9 months ago and it got much better - but still I got things messed up). On the other hand I found the NetBeans 6.x quality of Gui designer very much improved so people should give it a try!

However, I think the Gui designer should be used for new projects only and not for already existing projects where the Gui has been "designed" writing the plain code because it can very easy be that this is not interpreted correctly.

But all that said I must note that I am a beginner and do not have experience with larger projects.

[jsemmanuel]

I used Netbeans since 1. It has highlights errors and I don't have to wait for the errors to show up and compile time, and 2. I find using an IDE simpler. I don't really think Netbeans is the best one, just that I have used it since I started with Java and found no reason to change. It works fine for me.

[Eranga]

Why don't you think that NetBeans is the best IDE? Any special reason for that?

[jsemmanuel]

I used eclipse a few times on windows and it was good too. Best? I dunno. I need to have used and evaluated the others to say that netbeans is best. :)

[mwildam]

I used both and I find Eclipse faster but for me as a beginner NetBeans did support me better (e.g. I do not need to know anything about ant to get a distributable package). And my first big problem with Eclipse was to decide which distribution to use. On refactoring in my opinion Eclipse is also better and for Eclipse there are more plugins available (as far as I could notice).

An important issue for me was the GUI Builder. I tested Visual Editor under Eclipse because I was told that it is ok. And it was awful unstable and sometimes after editing code it could not display the GUI anymore in designer. But (in the meantime) there are maybe other alternatives that work better. Any suggestions?

I know also people designing the GUI with NetBeans and then continue coding in Eclipse - which for me seems to be more annoying than the benefits of Eclipse.

Here is a link that also discusses the dilemma Eclipse vs NetBeans (and SWT vs Swing): SWT vs. Swing & Eclipse vs. NetBeans 5.0

[Eranga]

Only difficulty I found on NetBeans is, Swing/AWT control alignments. As far as I know, it's impossible to align controls relatively to each other. There may be a plug-in, but I didn't found a such so far. Except that, NetBeans is the best for me. :)

[mwildam]

Only difficulty I found on NetBeans is, Swing/AWT control alignments. As far as I know, it's impossible to align controls relatively to each other.

It works with NetBeans 6.1 - if you are moving one control in the near of another. It then "docks" to that one indicated by a line with a dot. And actually it docks whenever is moved or resized to the things in the near.

Hoping, that I understood you correct,

Martin.

[Eranga]

It works with NetBeans 6.1 - if you are moving one control in the near of another. It then "docks" to that one indicated by a line with a dot. And actually it docks whenever is moved or resized to the things in the near.

Hoping, that I understood you correct,

Martin.

Yep, that's true. But it doesn't work for all layouts. Only for absolute layout, right. And also I found lots of issue in that way, on different resolutions in different PCs.

[mwildam]

Yes I tried first of all the absolute layout so far only. I did only very few tests with other layouts and didn't like them. The issues you are talking about are also happening with the absolute layout?

[Eranga]

What I'm saying is, with the absolute layout, the docking indicators are not working. Actually it's work only for Free Design layout mode, which is the NetBeans default layout we can see on first time.

[mwildam]

Oh sorry, I used the default free layout only - so I said that wrong in my last post.

[Eranga]

Oh sorry, I used the default free layout only - so I said that wrong in my last post.

Never mind. It's much better if we can find any supported plugin for this. I'm alert on this and still not found any solution. Only using the Free Design we can't do all what we want. That's why this is more important.

[Supamagier]

The two I use aren't in that list ;P

I mainly use JavaEditor, and else I use VisualCafe. I both like them, although I prefer JavaEditor. (I think it's both payware)

[Eranga]

The two I use aren't in that list ;P

I mainly use JavaEditor, and else I use VisualCafe. I both like them, although I prefer JavaEditor. (I think it's both payware)

I've never heard about those IDEs. Are they specifically for Java only? May be the reason that is not much familiar is, you have to pay. ;)

[Supamagier]

VisualCafe is java-only; it also supports netbeans and stuff btw. JavaEditor is mainly for Java, but it also supports some other languages.

You need to pay (not sure about JavaEditor), but I got them for free from school anyways. ;)

[Eranga]

Ah, it may be a cracked version. ;) Anyway, why don't you try with NetBeans.

[Supamagier]

Not sure what NetBeans is tbh. And I'm fine with the standard :)

[Eranga]

Not sure what NetBeans is tbh. And I'm fine with the standard :)

What's the standard are you talking about?