Which Java IDE do you use?
 

This is for all those Java Developers out there. Which IDE do you use? Are you an Eclipse or Netbeans guru, or is a text editor and command line all you need?

For all you macho types that pick 'text editor', get with the program and pick an IDE to work with. Any IDE will save you so much time and aggravation. My personal favorite is Eclipse, but any is much better than a standard text editor. vi may suffice with your "hello world" in java, but try it with a project with thousands of java sources in directory trees 5+ levels deep, it just doesn't cut it.

:( No thanks, I've not found an IDE that's fast flexible and intelligent enough. I don't want to use all my memory on a constantly-swapping slow-to-respond program. I'd like to use the same commands no matter whether I'm writing Java or Objective Caml. And I can manage dependencies better on my own than with Eclipse -- why, only yesterday Eclipse refused to compile the source folders in two dependency projects. Composing addition and subtraction forms the identity function, so why is it necessary to remove and re-add the source folder to get it to compile? Ant doesn't have that problem. Not trying to bash Eclipse too much, but I work better with other tools. And I don't really consider myself "macho" -- I just know with what methods I work best.

(And even if sent with the best of intentions, that sounds kind of harsh coming from a moderator.)

Harsh? Don't get too sensitive, only meant as a joke.

Eclipse does have it's quirks and is a memory hog, but the benefits far outweigh the problems. There are 2 gigs of RAM in this machine and it's currently using 2.5 gigs. Between Eclipse, the Java based SQLDeveloper and about 15 terminal windows, my machine is maxed. Price I'm willing to pay for the convenience.

We also use ant, it's the universal build tool for all the developers and to build the final product.

I voted for Eclipse. I really tried to like Netbeans and I actually do, especially when designing GUI. But Eclipse is just awesome.

And I totally agree with crabboy. In a real world, you can't use text editors to bigger projects, especially if you are not the only programmer developing a given application. The integrated CVS/SVN is great, the auto-completion is a time saver as well. I almost never have to check the Java API anymore because Eclipse always clearly tells me how to use a method and its parameters. Organizing the code in packages is also a no brainer.

Perhaps an IDE is less necessary with other languages, but in Java, it really is a must (for non-Hello World type of programs)

Depending on what I'm doing with the source code, I'm either using a vi clone (elvis) or an IDE (netbeans 5.5 or 6.0beta).

I was quite reluctant to use an IDE for many years because the I was much more productive with vi but that netbeans plugin http://plugins.netbeans.org/PluginPo...?pluginid=2802 helped me to partially switch.

From a personal point of view, I have always preferred to use an IDE. It takes a while to get use to a new one, or the first one you use. I am studying Games Technology at university and I couldn't imagine trying to do half of what I do without an IDE. It makes life easier for 90% of the time, and due to the popularity of IDE's in general, when you get that 10% problem time, there is always someone else who has been through it all to help you.

Most guys use Eclipse as it has lots of plugins and good features. I prefer netbeans but it doesn't have as much plugins as Eclipse.

I voted Eclipse because I like how easy it is to install (Pre-compiled? Can't complain).

I like Netbeans too, but lately, it's proved to be a hassle to install (for some wierd reason). The one feature that Netbeans has that wins out over Eclipse, is running applications. I like how Netbeans just looks for a main() function in the current buffer (open text window - whatever ya wanna call it), whereas with Eclipse you have to define runtime scenarios (which is a huge pain in the ass when you switch between projects).


EDIT:

Quote:

Originally Posted by mrcheeks Most guys use Eclipse as it has lots of plugins and good features.

What about the women...?

Hee hee - I couldn't resist. :)

Gotta agree with IndieNick on the Netbeans comment. Also, mrcheeks made a good point on the fact that netbeans has become increasingly hard to install. I have currently installed Fedora 7 on my AMD 64 and am really struggling to install Sun's Java. Netbeans, of course, doesn't seem to like Fedora's JDK.

Eclipse is a nice editor but as already said, the fact that you need to define runtime configs does just hack me off a little bit. I like the compile->build->run idea!

I don't really need an IDE, Emacs is fine for me (that goes for C++ as well as Java). I guess it would be different if I was writing really large programs.

I don't do much Java, but I've found that an IDE is good for whipping together a quick hack, whereas for anything more complicated it gets in the way. The couple of things that I've done that were more than quick hacks ended up being done in a text editor so I didn't have to keep fighting the IDE...

Wondering about those Netbeans install problems? I've used Netbeans on Windows, Mac, Solaris, and Linux and never had any problems at all... Eclipse I had problems with on Linux though...

Dependance on technology
 

Recently I am developing only application with JDK Standard Edition from Sun Microsystems. All my applications are GUI client server or non interactive tasks. My developing environment on Windows is a very comfortable editor TextPad (Helios Software Solutions), which can compile and run Java classes and has a simple possibility of work with packages. On Linux i still use vi editor (vim enhanced).
Only for testing purposes I am interesting with Netbeans. But in the future it may by another way for developing application especially in case of developing programs in three tiers technology.

Under win I use JCreator. Under Linux I used to use C-Forge, but now I just use vim.

Eclipse rocks
 

Many people complain with having usability issues when starting out with Eclipse, but i have never found out this to be true for myself. IMHO Eclipse is the best IDE out there specially for Java. A big plus for me, in Eclipse is the use of JFace/SWT which is much more aesthetically pleasing, more native looking, and more responsive than Swing. Also i've started to prefer SWT over Swing after using Eclipse. Plus, Eclipse is open-source :D
I'm not sure about it, but probably eclipse has had rich features like Refactoring before MS Visual Studio or any other IDE.
PS: Why has the poll closed ? :confused: