Net Beans

[stuffradio]

Should I use an IDE like NetBeans to make games, or should I stick with Eclipse?

[Riven]

For making games, it doesn’t matter. It’s personal taste.

I prefer Eclipse, the next poster probably does not

[stuffradio]

I want to start learning about making GUIs and customizing them a lot to make some cool effects. Any tips on where to get started?

[ORFJackal]

@Riven

I prefer Eclipse, the next poster probably does not

You’re right, I prefer IntelliJ IDEA.

@stuffradio

I want to start learning about making GUIs and customizing them a lot to make some cool effects. Any tips on where to get started?

If you want to make desktop application GUIs, have a look at Swing: http://java.sun.com/docs/books/tutorial/uiswing/

Before you start making “cool effects”, it’s best to first learn the basics of making GUIs. What kind of effects would you want to make and what for?

[stuffradio]

Eventually I want to be able to make 2d rpgs. Although, I don’t know if I need cool effects… but I want to be able to make the gui look good somehow.

[cylab]

I

@Riven

I prefer Eclipse, the next poster probably does not

For free IDEs I prefer NetBeans

@stuffradio

Eventually I want to be able to make 2d rpgs. Although, I don’t know if I need cool effects… but I want to be able to make the gui look good somehow.

Swing might not be the right framework for game GUIs. If you use Slick, there is SUI and you probably want to have a look at Feng GUI but haven’t tried it’s theming capabilities (the defaults look rather unappealing). To use it with Slick you need a wrapper: http://slick.javaunlimited.net/viewtopic.php?t=535