NetBeans

Overview

Apache NetBeans (NetBeans for short) is a free and open-source Integrated Development Environment (IDE) primarily used for Java development, but it supports multiple programming languages and frameworks, such as C/C++, PHP, Python, JavaScript, and HTML5, through plugins. It is maintained by the Apache Software Foundation (since April 2019) and hosted at netbeans.apache.org. It supports platforms such as Windows, Linux, and macOS, making it suitable for desktop development environments. NetBeans uses a plugin architecture, is based on the Eclipse Public License 2.0 (EPL v2.0), and its core is the NetBeans Platform (OSGi framework), providing code editing, debugging, version control, and project management functions. NetBeans emphasizes multi-language support and extensibility, making it suitable for Java SE/EE, web development, and mobile applications, with a plugin ecosystem exceeding 1000.

History and Development

• Origins:
  • 1997: The NetBeans project was launched, developed by Czech students Roman Strobl and Jaroslav Tulach at Charles University as a prototype for a Java IDE.
  • 2000: Sun Microsystems acquired NetBeans; Eclipse 2.0 was released on November 7, 2001.
• Development Timeline:
  • December 2004: NetBeans 4.0 was released, introducing the Ant project system and JDK 1.5 support.
  • May 2005: NetBeans 4.1 was released, with full J2EE support.
  • December 2007: NetBeans 6.0 was released, integrating Maven and Ruby support.
  • August 2010: NetBeans 6.9.1 was released, with OSGi support.
  • September 2016: Oracle donated NetBeans to the Apache Foundation.
  • April 2019: Apache NetBeans 11.0 was released, becoming an Apache Top-Level project.
  • December 2020: NetBeans 12.0 was released, supporting JDK 14/15.
  • June 2023: NetBeans 21 was released, supporting JDK 21 and C++23.
  • May 19, 2025: Apache NetBeans 26 was released, supporting JDK 24, C++23, and AI code completion.
• Community and Support:
  • Maintained by the Apache Foundation and hosted on netbeans.apache.org, GitHub, and Stack Overflow.
  • Supports multiple languages (English/Chinese), with documentation available on the Eclipse Marketplace and in tutorials.
  • Reddit users call "Apache NetBeans 26 the king of free Java IDEs."
• Open Source License:
  • EPL v2.0.

Key Features

NetBeans is designed for software development with a plugin architecture, multi-language support, and extensibility. Here are its key features:

1. Multi-language Development Support
   • Natively supports Java, C/C++, Python, PHP, JavaScript, etc., and can be extended through plugins such as CDT, JDT, and PyDev.
2. Plugin Ecosystem
   • Over 1000 plugins (such as Git, Maven, Gradle, Docker), supporting AI code completion (added in May 2025).
3. Debugging and Analysis Tools
   • Built-in debugger and performance analyzer, supporting C++23 and Java24 preview.
4. Cross-Platform Compatibility
   • Supports Linux/Windows/macOS, based on the SWT toolkit.
5. Hardware Compatibility
   • Minimum: 1 GHz CPU, 1 GB RAM, 1024x768 resolution.
6. Security and Privacy
   • Open Source EPL: Transparent source code.
7. Development Support
   • Maven/Gradle: Built-in integration.

Advantages and Limitations

Advantages

• Plugin Ecosystem: 1000+ plugins, superior to VS Code extensions.
• Open Source and Free: EPL license, cross-platform.
• AI Enhancements: Code completion and performance analysis in the May 2025 version.
• Community Support: Active Apache Foundation.

Limitations

• Learning Curve: Complex plugin management, better than IntelliJ but not as good as VS Code.
• Resource Consumption: 2-4 GB RAM, better than IntelliJ but not as good as VS Code.
• IDE Comparison:
  • VS Code: Lightweight, highly extensible.
  • IntelliJ IDEA: Java professional.
  • NetBeans: Apache project.

Summary

Apache NetBeans is a free and open-source cross-platform IDE. The May 2025 version is based on Java 24, supports C++23 and AI completion, and has a plugin ecosystem of 1000+. Compared to VS Code (lightweight) and IntelliJ IDEA (Java professional), NetBeans excels in extensibility and open-source nature, but has a steep learning curve.