IDEs for JETT Workshop

Example code

public class Example {

    public static void main(String[] args) {
        new Example().go();
    }

    public void go() {
        System.out.println(subtract(add(7, 10), 3));
    }

    /**
     * Computes the sum of two numbers.
     * @param x The first addend.
     * @param y The second addend.
     * @return The sum.
     */
    int add(int i, int j) {
        return i + j;
    }

    /**
     * Computes the difference of two numbers.
     */
    int subtract(int x, int y) {
        return x + y;
    }
}

import junit.framework.TestCase;

public class ExampleTest extends TestCase {
    Example e;

    public ExampleTest() {
        super();
        e = new Example();
    }

    protected void setUp() throws Exception {
    }

    public final void testAdd() {
        assertEquals(9, e.add(6, 3));
    }

    public final void testSubtract() {
        assertEquals(9, e.subtract(30, 21));
        assertEquals(-3, e.subtract(-5, 2));
    }
}

IDE features

All the IDEs (Integrated Development Environments) discussed here have the following features:

• Platform independent (Windows, Mac, Linux)
• Project based
• Integrated text editor with syntax coloring, line numbers, auto indenting, auto comment/uncomment
• Integrated javac (java compiler) and java (program execution)
• Integrated javadoc (documentation generation)
• Integrated debugger
• Integrated junit (unit testing)

BlueJ

http://www.bluej.org/
The most recent stable version is 2.1.3.

Additional features:

• BlueJ is the simplest IDE of the ones discussed here.
• Shows a simplified UML diagram of the class relationships.
• Can create and test objects on the "Object bench" (no main method required).
• Can try out individual statements.
• Interesting plugin: Submitter (allows submission of projects to specified address via email, ftp, http or file copy).

Hint:

• In Terminal window, set Clear Screen at Method Call and Unlimited Buffering

DrJava

http://drjava.sourceforge.net/
The most recent stable version is drjava-stable-20070130-2255. Supports Java 1.4, 1.5, and 6.

Additional features:

• Can try out individual statements.
• Can set acceptable language level (Elementary, Intermediate, Advanced, Full)

Eclipse

http://www.eclipse.org/downloads/
The most recent stable version is 3.2.2

Too many great features to list. Here is a sampling:

• Command completion.
• Instant indication of syntax errors, with explanations and suggested fixes.
• Can indent and reformat code to standards (but highly configurable).
• Automatically keeps history of previous versions.
• Many refactorings.
• Excellent navigation aids and javadoc lookup.
• Automatic generation of JUnit test stubs (but does not automatically add JUnit to each project).
• Visual GUI builder plugin: http://windowbuilderpro.com
• DrJava Plugin: http://sourceforge.net/project/showfiles.php?group_id=44253

Downside: Intimidating.

I don't believe in teaching two complex things at once. So in the past I've started with BlueJ and later switched to Eclipse. This past year I started by teaching some Eclipse before starting to teach Java, and that's worked out we..

NetBeans

http://java.sun.com/javase/downloads/index.jsp (Download along with Java)
The most recent stable version is 6.0 Preview (M9).

Additional features:

• Very similar to Eclipse in features.
• Integrated GUI builder (Matisse).
• There is an integrated BlueJ/NetBeans edition (http://edu.netbeans.org/bluej/)
• Better looking than Eclipse.

Disadvantages:

• Also intimidating.
• Slow--and on older computers, unusably slow.
• In my experience, doesn't work well in the presence of programming errors.

BeanShell

http://www.beanshell.org/
The most recent stable version is bsh-2.0b4.jar.

BeanShell isn't an IDE at all. It is "dynamically interpreted Java, plus a scripting language and flexible environment all rolled into one clean package." This is the most dynamic, hands-on way to experiment with Java.

BeanShell has a number of convenience features, like simplified printing and optional type declarations, that make it nice to use. However, these same features make it "almost but not quite Java," so in some sense its major advantages are the same as its major disadvantages. In my opinion, it's well worth a look.

Satisfice: "To accept a choice or judgment as one that is good enough, one that satisfies. According to Herb Simon, who coined the term, the tendency to satisfice shows up in many cognitive tasks such as playing games, solving problems, and making financial decisions where people typically do not or cannot search for the optimal solutions."
--The Penguin Dictionary of Philosophy

Energy barrier: The energy that must be put into a chemical reaction before the reaction begins to produce energy.