NetBeans 4 new project system

Engines, Libraries and Tools Tools Discussion
#1

I’m following the pre-alpha phase for a while now, but IMHO the new system really sucks (besides lots of bugs an glitches, which is OK for pre-alpha).

But maybe I just didn’t get it right?

Here are some problems:

  • how to work with non-java files?? (xml, build, doc, …)
  • one project per source-dir?
  • project setup very uncomfortable
  • in complex projects: incredible startup times!
  • private project files with absolute pathes … necessary?
  • no individual startup parameters for different main-classes
  • …
#2

I think they’ve done wonders with the UI. I -really- want to use it, but every D build I try, I end up going back to 3.6 because the project system is so broken.

For me it’s almost there. I can just about integrate my existing project, but for the life of me I can’t figure out how to compile a single file into the destination classes directory.

There are a few other issues as well, none of which immediately jump to mind.

Frankly, on the IDE subject, all I really want is a text editor with a few extra bits. Give me the Netbeans 4 IDE, without all the extra modules, but with dot completion (cause I’m lazy), and the ability to compile, and I’d be happy… sigh.

#3

I’ve been re-evaluating NB with version 4,after having left it for Eclipse years ago.

They still have a LONG way to go to catch up to Eclipse.

I like the idea of the new project management - that it is based on the de-facto standard Ant build system, so build with another IDE or outside the IDE entirely is simple. But now far too much manual editing of Ant build files is required. And it is often complex editing…overriding things for different build files - knowing about custom NB ant tasks and properties.
If they fixed those issues (and they aren’t likely too for 4.0 it seems) then I would say that NB 4 is better. But as it is NB 4 project management is just hard to use.

I didn’t vote because I like the direction it is heading (better), but until it gets there it is worse.

#4

NB4 is in beta now. Obviously they are serious about deploying that project system.

Sigh. I hoped so much to be able to stay with NB, but now I’m afraid I need to change to Eclipse…

It’s really a pitty.

#5

Well the hopeless project system in previous versions of NetBeans has been the main reason why I have never done anything serious with it. I currently use IntelliJ IDEA, which of course costs.