The language-aware editor highlights code syntactically and semantically,
and assists you with smart code-completion and improved navigation.
Language-Aware Editor
An IDE is much more than a text editor.
The NetBeans editor indents lines, matches words and brackets,
and highlights source code syntactically and semantically.
The editor supports several languages including
Java, Ruby, C/C++, XML, HTML, RHTML, Javadoc, JavaScript, and JSP.
It can be extended to support any other language.
The IDE parses the source code live while you type.
This way the editor is able to immediately mark errors and highlight occurences.
Tooltips and editor glyphs unobtrusively display compiler hints, quick fixes,
warnings, and language documentation.
Refactoring
The IDE's refactoring actions allow you to restructure code without breaking it.
For example, when you rename an identifier or move a class to another package,
don't use Search and Replace:
The IDE can identify and update all occurences instantly.
Smart Code Completion
The editor provides automatic code completion in several languages,
including Java, Ruby, XML, C/C++, HTML, RHTML, JSP, JavaScript and Javadoc (new in 6.1).
While you type, it lists possible completions:
The most obvious and common options are listed at the top,
but you can always choose from the full set of options at the bottom.
Go to File, Go to Type
Open any file or type with one quick keyboard shortcut,
or go directly to a declaration with a single click.
In the Go To dialogs you can type in file or type names
using camel case and even wild cards,
and do a case sensitive search over all open projects.
Insert Code
The editor can generate code for you in Java or Ruby.
A dialog is provided to give you complete control over
which methods are created and which class attributes they access.
You can override methods and generate dynamic code blocks
such as loops, javadoc and accessors.
With a few keystrokes you insert commonly used code snippets from live templates,
including a rich set of surround-with code.
Inspect Members
Inspect the members of any Java class in a convenient popup window.
Use filters to control the level of detail that is displayed.
Inspect Hierarchy
Inspect the hierarchy of any Java class in a convenient popup window
that can display base classes and interfaces and derived classes and interfaces.
Use filters to control the level of detail that is displayed.
File History
You can always use a file's Local History
to view recent modifications and revert changes,
even if the file is not handled by a version control system.
Navigation
Use the Navigator's Members and Hierarchy Inspectors to navigate within files fast.
The error stripe gives you an immediate overview of all highlighted lines in a file:
With a single click, you jump to errors, hints, annotations, or search results.
Fully Configurable User Interface
Use keyboard shortcuts or click configurable toolbar icons to
access tools for compiling, refactoring, profiling, debugging and unit testing.
Editor fonts and colors can be fully customized.
All windows can be individually positioned and split vertically or horizontally.
