NetBeans

Installation

Download NetBeans from the official website: https://netbeans.org/

Take the NetBeans Java EE version.

Linux

• Download the NetBeans script
• Make the script executable and run it

chmod 755 netbeans-8.0-javaee-linux.sh
./netbeans-8.0-javaee-linux.sh

Installation process

On installation start you can choose to install or not some servers:

• Glassfish 4 = full JEE server. It provides EJB, JSF and all the JEE stack. Your application can rely on it.
• Tomcat 8 = servlet container. It can only display JSP. You have to provide the other library into your application.

[ I like to install them separately ]

Accept all license terms for both Java & jUnit.

Let the IDE check for update in background.

JDK settings

Adjust NetBeans' JDK

When you upgrade your JDK you might have a NetBeans error at startup. You have to edit the core configuration file.

• Close NetBeans
• edit: $NetBeans\etc\netbeans.conf

netbeans_jdkhome="C:\Program Files\Java\jdk1.7.0_21"

• Adjust default JDK path

Register new JDK into the application

Start NetBeans, go to “Tools > Java Platforms”

• Add the new JDK
• You can also remove the old ones that don’t exist anymore

Configuration

Look and feel

Tools > Options > Appearance > "look and feel"

The *Nimbus* look is a bit more friendly for your eyes. The gray background is better :)

Fonts & Colors

Tools > Options > "Fonts and colors"

The *Norway Today* theme is a high contrast theme.

Formatter

Remove trailing spaces and unused imports

Tools > Options > Editor > OnSave

• All languages
  • enable 'remove trailing whitespaces from: 'ALL LINES'

• Java
  • Click on the 2 import checkboxes

Code generation

Tools > Options > Editor > Formatting

• Language: All languages
• Category: Tabs and indents

none|Margins

• Language: Java
• Category: code generation

Display JavaDoc with code completion

To improve development comfort you can display the JavaDoc along with Code Completion.

Tools > Options > Editor > Code Completion

Increase terminal history

Tools > Options > Miscellaneous > Terminal > Increase history to, at least, 80 000

Ant home

If you have your own ANT installation you can use it instead of the default one.

Tools > Java > Ant

Maven configuration

Plugin configuration

Tools > Options > Java > Maven

• adjust installation path
• Adjust JavaDoc and Source retrieval. I advise you to use 1st project only

Add Maven SkipTests build

Tools > Options > Java > Maven > Edit Global Custom Goal Definitions

• ADD new "skipTests"
• Goals: clean install
• Set Properties: skipTests

Then, right click on project name > Custom > skipTests

JavaFX Scene Builder

Download JavaFX scene builder: http://www.oracle.com/technetwork/java/javafx/downloads/index.html

Tools > Options > Java > JavaFX

If you have installed the JavaFX Scene Builder you can specify the link here:

Plugins

Eclipse code formatter

Tools > Plugins > Available plugins Install "Eclipse code formatter"

Then, after the installation go to: Tools > Options > Java > Eclipse formatter just ENABLE the Eclipse formatter and set a configuration file. Note: don't forget to click format on save at the bottom.

Jacoco code coverage

Tools > Plugins > Available plugins Install:

• TikiOne JaCoCoverage Plugin
• TikiOne JaCoCo Reporting Libraries
• TikiOne JaCoCoverage Libraries
• JaCoCo Library

Click on install, accept the license, trust the packages and restart NetBeans.

!! For the plugin to work, you must use the default report file 'jacoco.exec' !!!

Adjust your project’s Maven Surefire plugin settings accordingly

Checkstyle

Official Web site: http://www.sickboy.cz/checkstyle/download.html

Installation

Tools Menu > Plugins > Settings

• add a new update center

• Just fill up the form:

For NetBeans 7.x the URL is: http://www.sickboy.cz/checkstyle/autoupdate/autoupdate-3.xml

• Now go to Tools > Plugins > Available plugins
• Install checkstyle

Checkstyle configuration

Tools > Options > Miscellaneous > Checkstyle

Set your configuration file

Shortcuts and Customization

Shortcuts

Official list of NetBeans shortcuts: https://netbeans.org/project_downloads/www/shortcuts.pdf

View packages as tree

Right click on the Projects tab > View Java Packages as > Reduced Tree or Tree

Where is the current file?

This is Eclipse “find in Editor”

You have to use the shortcuts: Ctrl + Shift + 1

Find usage

This is Eclipse Call Hierarchy

Use “ Alt + F7 ” shortcut

Generate Getters and Setters

Use “ Alt + insert ” shortcut

Maximize / Minimize code window

Use the “ Shift + Esc ” shortcut

Useful windows

This is like the Eclipse views

• Window > Action item
• Window > Output > { Output + Test Results + Search Results }
• Window >Navigating > Navigator
• Window > Other > JavaDoc

Server configuration

This is not necessary if you installed Glassfish and/or Tomcat with NetBeans.

GlassfishJEE server

Tools > Server > Add a new server

• Select Glassfish server
• Choose your server location

Let the default settings and click finish

Apache Tomcat

Tools > Servers > Add Server

• Select Apache Tomcat
• Choose your location and set a Tomcat user, as defined in $Tomcat/conf/tomcat-users.xml

Click finish

Other plugins

Tools > Plugin > Available plugins

• Dark look and feel themes