Java: NetBeans and the GUI Builder

Since first being introduced to VB.NET I figured that Microsoft had the market just about wrapped up and all the Java proponents were just sadly clinging to the past. The troublesome and time consuming task of creating a UI in Java seemed (to me) the ultimate death blow for Sun. And I am still convinced that software developers should be spending their coding time solving more important issues for their companies – and that the UI should be easy and quick to build.

The Java alternative:

I’ve been working out options for getting mobile device to database connectivity. Throughout my reading and research, I have grown increasingly more frustrated with Microsoft’s insane over-complication of the whole process. This morning, I woke up and decided to investigate Java as an alternative.

As of yesterday, my only exposure with Java was an introductory Java 1 course which was (sadly) too light on programming and too heavy on time-wasting. I learned the basics. We did no UI programming and were forced to use Eclipse. I wanted to try out NetBeans and never got a chance until today.

NetBeans 5.5.1:

I downloaded NetBeans on Ubuntu via Synoptic Package Manager. NetBeans 6 apparently has trouble working on Ubuntu 7.10 and I know that the jdk-6u3-nb-6_0-linux.sh file from Sun didn’t work for installing the current IDE version on Feisty Fawn for me. For now, I’m using the NetBeans 5.5.1 IDE – which still blows away Eclipse.
Seeing Java again:

It’s been a while since I looked at Java code. Happily, the NetBeans site has a wealth of information for getting started again!

Interested in mobile development?

Want to speed up the process of building a smart UI?

GUI Builder:

As I said, the impediments towards building rich UIs in Java (my past experience was restricted to Eclipse) was, for me, a great selling point for Microsoft. But the GUI Builder (code named Matisse) in the NetBeans IDE actually kicks butt!

I’d even go on a limb here and say that (at least my first impression) is that GUI Builder in the NetBeans IDE is far richer than the GUI designer in Visual Studio 2005. (I haven’t seen the VS 2008 yet).

What makes it better?:

For starters, it’s smarter. Controls are aware of other controls and adjust themselves accordingly and smartly when they are dropped on the form – ensuring that you always have a pleasing layout.

Will NetBeans solve my Mobile woes?

I’m not sure yet — but I plan to continue looking into it. I may still try ASP.NET pages on the mobiles, but I am excited about learning Java again. This time, I’ll teach myself … the awesome resources on the NetBeans site will certainly help!!