All Features and Supported Technologies
The NetBeans IDE is a free, open-source Integrated Development Environment for software developers.
You get all the tools you need to create professional desktop, enterprise, web and mobile applications,
in Java, C/C++ and a variety of dynamic languages.
The IDE runs on many platforms including Windows, Linux, Solaris, and Mac OS;
it is easy to install and use straight out of the box.
Base IDE
General IDE features
Non-proprietary Apache Ant 1.7.1 build scripts
Projects, Files, Services, and Favorites views
Fully configurable user interface (fonts, colors, toolbars, views)
Code formatting settings customizable per project
All views can be positioned, maximized/minimized, split, cloned and (un)docked
Navigator with members and hierarchy inspectors
Open As... action for associating file extensions with MIME-types
Project grouping
Included templates and sample applications
Go to File, Go to Type, Go to Symbol, Go to Declaration actions
Head-less build support
Task List integration (iCalendar format): Automatic scanning for errors, warnings,
TODO/FIXME tasks, and bug database integration
Sharable projects (relative library paths, name variable paths), support for MS Windows UNC paths.
Eclipse project and JBuilder project importer, Eclipse project synchronization
Quick Search bar: Quick access to files/types/symbols, projects, option panels, menu actions, and documentation
IDE Features Page
Source Code Editor
Full editor support for Java, XML, DTD, CSS, HTML,
ERB, RHTML, JSP, Javadoc, JavaScript, PHP, Groovy, Ruby, C and C++.
Smart Code Completion including CamelCase abbreviations
Syntactic and semantic code highlighting, word and bracket matching
Mark occurences, errors and warnings; hints, quick fixes
Automatic compile on save, and deploy on change (for Java projects)
Automatic code generation (accessors, surround-with, and more...)
Source Code folding
Customizable code formatting and identation
Refactoring actions:
Rename
Introduce Variable, Constant, Field, or Method
Change Method Parameters
Encapsulate Fields (getters and setters)
Pull Up, Push Down
Move Class, Copy Class
Move Inner to Outer Level
Convert Anonymous Class to Inner
Extract Interface, Extract Superclass
Use Supertype Where Possible
Safely Delete
Local History for non-version-controlled files
Documentation pop-up windows including Javadoc and rdoc
Editor can be extended to support any language (Project Schlieman)
An action to Remove Trailing Whitespace from lines
Editor Features Page
Version Control
CVS; Subversion; Mercurial
Subversion authentication protocols: file, http, https, svn, svn+ssh
CVS authentication protocols: pserver, ext, local, fork.
Automatic recognition of existing version-controlled directories
Versioning window shows new, removed, or modified files
Color-coded status of lines, files and folders: New, removed, up-to-date, or modified
Color-coded Diff Viewer for intuitive merge conflict resolution
Export Diff Patch action
Sharable project metadata
Version Control Features Page
Developer Collaboration
Share projects and files in real time over the network
Chat client with syntax coloring for Java and XML
Create conference chatrooms and manage contacts
Jabber (XMPP), JXTA, SIP protocol support
Collaboration Features Page
Desktop Applications (Java SE)
Java Development
Support for JDK 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 1.4, JDK 5.0 and JDK 6
Unit testing with JUnit 3 and 4
Library and Template Manager
Call Hierarchy window displays callers and callees of a method in a project
Javadoc Analyzer, Javadoc Auto Comment
Automatic Javadoc and source root detection in JARs and NetBeans Libraries
Java Beans support: Bean property generation, BeanInfo editor
Visual Swing GUI Builder (More...)
Integrated debugger (More...)
Integrated profiler (More...)
Java SE Features Page
Java Swing GUI Builder (formerly known as Matisse)
Visual Swing GUI designer for Free Design, null layout, or any Swing layout manager.
Extendable component palette with pre-installed Swing and AWT components
Visual menu designer
Component and Properties inspector
Support for Beans Binding technology (JSR 295)
Support for Swing Application Framework (JSR 296)
Support for GUI localization and accessibility
Easy access to properties of ComboBox, JTree, ButtonGroup, etc components
GUI Preview in Nimbus Looks&Feel (JDK 6 Update 10)
Configure the GUI Builder to generate either simple of fully qualified class names
Java Swing Features Page
Java Profiler
CPU Performance analysis and load generation tools
Memory analysis and memory leak detection
Threads profiling
Local and remote attachment
HeapWalker
Profiling Points
JMeter integration
Save snapshots and process them offline
Profiler Features Page
Java Debugger
Multi-language debugger
Configurable breakpoints
Multi-threaded debugging (default breakpoint only suspends breakpoint thread)
Customizable Debugging View displays threads, sessions, call stacks
Current Thread Chooser for switching threads, threads navigation directly accessible from editor gutter
Automatic deadlock detection among suspended threads
Watches window
Call Stack window
Local and remote debugging
Run into, step over, step into and step out actions
Expression evaluation
Debugger Features Page
Web Applications and Enterprise Applications (Java EE)
Web Applications
Web JSF Application Development
Apache Struts 1.2.9 and 1.3.x
Spring Web MVC 2.5
Hibernate 3.2.5 framework, HQL queries, Hibernate Reverse Engineering wizard
JavaServer Pages (JSP)
JavaServer Faces (JSF 1.2) framework
Ajax-enabled JSF components
Generate JavaServer Faces CRUD application (Create-Read-Update-Delete) from JPA entity classes
Hyperlink navigation for JSF and JSP pages
Page Flow Editor for JavaServer Faces, JSP, and HTML pages
Editor for deployment descriptors
JavaServer Pages Standard Tag Library (JSTL).
Editor supports HTML, JavaScript, PHP, JSP, JSF, and CSS
Property values error checking in CSS code
HTTP monitor for web application debugging
Support for persistence units
Migration from Java Studio Creator and NetBeans Visual Web Pack 5.5.x
Deploying Java applications and Applets via Java Web Start (JNLP) including external resources
Web Application Features Page
Databases
The NetBeans Database Explorer supports any relational database for which there is a
JDBC driver :
JavaDB (Derby), MySQL, PostgreSQL;
Oracle, IBM DB2, Microsoft SQL Server, PointBase, Sybase, Informix, Cloudscape,
InstantDB, Interbase, Firebird, FirstSQL, Mckoi SQL, HSQLDB, Hypersonic SQL, Micrososft Access.
Visual Query Editor (Data Provider API)
Sakila plugin installs a sample MySQL database for use with tutorials
Integration of MySQL servers (start/stop)
Auto-detection of existing MySQL databases
Database Explorer to connect to, browse, create, or delete databases
Integration for external administration tools like phpMyAdmin
SQL Editor with code completion and query history.
Edit, sort and filter results directly, view large data sets page by page.
Databases Features Page
Enterprise Applications (Java EE)
J2EE 1.3, J2EE 1.4 and Java EE 5 standards, including Annotations
Java Persistence API (JPA, JSR 220)
JavaServer Pages (JSP)
Enterprise JavaBeans (EJB 2.1 and EJB 3)
Consumption of EJB 2.1 in web applications
Java Servlet API
Supports Sun Java System Application Server 8 and 9, GlassFish v1/v2/v3,
Apache Tomcat 4, 5 and 6, JBoss 4, BEA WebLogic 10, IBM WebSphere 6.0 and 6.1, Sailfin V1, and others.
Java EE Features Page
Web Services
Support for JAX-WS 2.1, JAX-RS (JSR 311), JAX-RPC (JSR 101) web service standards
Designer for JAX-WS services
Web Service Customization editor
Secure identity management with the Sun Java System Access Manager
SOAP-based and RESTful Web Services
Create JSR311-compliant RESTful web services from JPA entity classes and patterns, or from databases
Google Maps, StrikeIron, and Yahoo News Search RESTful web services
JBI Java Business Integration (JSR 208)
Java Architecture for XML Binding API (JAXB) wizard
Mobile Java ME Web services (JSR 172)
Interoperable Web services (JSR 109)
Axis2 support
SoapUI integration for Web Service testing and monitoring
Support for SaaS (Software as a Service provided by among others, Google, Facebook, Yahoo, and YouTube).
Web Services Features Page
Mobile Applications (Java ME)
Full support for
Mobile Information Device Profile (MIDP) 1.0, 2.0 and 2.1
Connected Limited Device Configuration (CLDC) 1.0 and 1.1
Connected Device Configuration (CDC)
Apache Ant 1.7.1 build scripts
Visual Mobile GUI Designer with localization and data binding support
Mobile Screen Designer
Mobile Game Builder for the MIDP 2.0 Game API
Support for SVG graphics (JSR 226): SVG Composer with SVG UI components, SVG property editor
Component palette, custom component creation wizard
JMUnit 1.1.0 testing
MIDlet signing and certificate management
Integrated over-the-air (OTA) emulation
Push-registry emulation
WMA emulation features for SMS and CBS messages
Wireless Messaging and Multimedia APIs
Code obfuscation with ProGuard 4.2
Multiple project configurations
On-device testing and debugging
Mobile Java ME Web service (JSR 172)
SDK MpowerPlayer platform support for Mac OS (How to install )
Java ME Features Page
JavaFX
Pre-release available from javafx.com !
JavaFX project running, testing and debugging
Editor supports syntax highlighting, code completion, and error detection.
Preview of visual code elements in the editor
Deploy JavaFX projects as Java web start (JNLP), Mobile application, Java browser Applet, or stand-alone application
Palette with code snippets that you can drag and drop into the editor (transformations, effects, animations)
JavaFX Features Page
Ruby and Ruby on Rails
Support for native Ruby, Ruby on Rails 2.0, and JRuby
Ruby project type for Ruby and YAML files
Ruby on Rails project type
Editor with syntactic and semantic code highlighting
Hints and quick fixes, refactoring, automatic code completion
Integrated Rake build tool
Integrated rdoc pop-ups
Access to Interactive Ruby Shell (IRB)
Integrated support for Test::Unit, Auto Test, and RSpec files
Integrated WEBrick and Mongrel web servers
Database migration integration
Templates and code generator
Debugger for Ruby, JRuby, and Ruby on Rails
Ruby Gems Installation Manager
Rake Runner
Ruby Features Page
Groovy and Grails
Create pure Groovy projects, Grails projects, and mixed Java SE/Groovy projects
Groovy editor with syntax highlighting, navigator, code folding, occurrences highlighting, code completion, and more
Open existing Grails applications (no import required, no meta-data is added)
Integrated Grails commands, Services window integration
Groovy Features Page
PHP
A Java Development Kit (JDK) is not required to run the PHP-only IDE; the Java Runtime Environment (JRE) suffices.
PHP editor with syntactic and semantic code highlighting for mixed code (PHP/HTML/CSS/JavaScript), occurences and error highlighting
code completion and dynamic help (also for PHPDoc tags and included elements),
code generators, comment completion, php doc generation, abbreviations, code snippet palette
Support for php short tags and php HEREDOC strings, code folding, bracket matching, indentation
Integrated FTP access for remotely hosted projects (upload, download, delete)
IDE recognizes default location of document root in different operating systems
Support for PHP include path (global for all projects, or one per project)
Run project/single file, debug project/single file, run script in command line
Wizard for creating new PHTML and PHP files
Navigator and hyperlinking (Go to Declaration, Go to Type, Go to the included/required file)
Rename Refactoring
Debugger supports breakpoint, local variables, watches and bubble watches (tooltip)
Support for multiple project configurations
Find Usages action
PHP Features Page
JavaScript
JavaScript editor with syntax highlighting, code completion, pop-up documentation, and error checking.
The Editor recognizes JavaScript code in stand-alone JavaScript files as well as in HTML, RHTML, and JSP files.
JavaScript Debugger supports watches, breakpoints,
viewing and navigating source artifacts and JavaScript Callstack,
viewing window and frame structure, local variables, and (static) browser DOM.
Debug JavaScript in HTML files, JavaScript files, or generated URL sources, in Java EE and Ruby projects.
JavaScript debugging requires Firefox 2.0.0.X with Firebug 1.1beta plugin,
or Internet Explorer 6/7 on Windows XP/Vista operating systems.
JavaScript Library Manager to add JavaScript libraries to Java EE, Ruby, or PHP projects.
Bundled JavaScript libraries: Yahoo UI, WoodStock, jQuery, Dojo, Scriptaculous, Prototype
JavaScript Features Page
C/C++
Project types for C and C++ NetBeans Projects
Compiler-neutral - works with GNU Compiler (GCC), MinGW, and others
Project templates, import of existing projects
Support for dynamic and static libraries
Editor with syntactic and semantic code highlighting, indentation, code completion, error highlighting
Classes Browser
Call Graph window (direct and reverse)
Memory Window
Customizable pre-processor definitions and compile-time options
Makefile wizard
Remote development (using tools on remote hosts, build and run from your client system)
GNU debugger (gdb)
Supported platforms: Microsoft Windows, Linux, Mac OS, Solaris 10 Operating Systems
C and C++ Features Page
UML
The UML plugin is available from the update center (Tools > Plugins).
Forward and Reverse Engineering
Supported UML diagrams:
Activity diagram, Class diagram, Sequence diagram, State diagram, and Use Case diagram.
Diagram Editor with alignment tools
Customizable FreeMaker templates
Javadoc style web reporting
Design patterns include EJB 1.1, EJB 2.0 and Gang of Four.
UML Features Page
Python
Python projects and project importer
Python Platform Manager for CPython or Jython (Jython 2.5 beta0 is pre-installed)
Python editor with smart indent/outdent, pair matching, finding undefined names,
syntactic and semantic highlighting, code folding,
instant rename refactoring, mark occurrences, Quick Fixes, code completion.
Interactive python console
Python debugger (jpydbg) integration
Import management
Python Features Page
SOA, WSDL, XML
Identity Management Server
XML Schema Tools
XSLT Editor for Extensible Stylesheet Language Transformations
WSDL Editor for Web Services Description Language 1.1
BPEL Designer and Debugger
Sun Java System Application Server 8 and 9 (GlassFish v1/v2/v3)
Service Assembly Editor for Composite Applications
JBI Java Business Integration (JSR 208)
SOA Features Page
NetBeans Platform
Tools for Rich client application development
Tools for NetBeans plugin (NBM) development
Visual Library API for data visualization
NetBeans Preferences API
Lexer API for creating tokens from a textual input
QuickSearch SPI
OutlineView (replacing TreeTableView) for drag and drop, sorting, and in-place editing of tree cells
Supports JDK 5 generics
NetBeans Platform Features Page
Available from the Plugins Manager
Install these and more NetBeans Plugins using the Plugin Manager
(Tools > Plugins > Available Plugins).Plugin Portal ,
where you can also contribute your own.
Stable Plugins
UML modeling )Apache Maven build scripts
BlueJ project support
Developer Collaboration (live project sharing, Jabber instant messenger)
Generic Load Generator infrastructure
Testing tools (JMeter Kit, JUnit, Jemmy, Jelly tools, Xtest)
Subversion client (for Microsoft Windows)
Clearcase version control
Ant 1.7.1 documentation
Ruby extras (color themes, hints)
Java Management Extensions (JMX) and JConsole
JBuilder project importer
Log management
Elixir Repertoire business intelligence suite
NetBeans Platform API documentation
Portlet support (Portal Pack with Sun Java System Portal Server 7.x, JSF Portlets, OpenPortal Portlet Container)
And many more...
Features Page
