# Java Software

- You need sofware to develop your Java programs.
- You can use the software in the UMUC computer labs, but most students install Java software on their own machines.
- Fortunately, there is an abundance of free software.
- You must install Sun's J2SE JDK 1.5 (java.sun.com)
- In addition choose one (or more) of the following.
  - TextPad editor (www.textpad.com)
  - NetBeans (www.netbeans.org)
  - jGrasp or JCreator

# Integrated Development Environment (IDE)

An IDE puts many tools in one package.

- A program text editor
- A compiler (usually Sun's JDK).
- A way to run your programs from within the IDE.
- A debugger to help you find errors in your programs.
- Many other tools, eg, a GUI editor, jar file generator, ...
- Examples
  1. Top ranked: IntelliJ IDEA ($), Eclipse (no GUI editor, not in UMUC labs)
  2. Also good: NetBeans (in UMUC labs, GUI editor), JBuilder
  3. Simpler: jGrasp (in UMUC labs), JCreator (nicer?), ...

# NetBeans 5.0 (www.netbeans.org)

- Features
  - GUI editor - Many IDEs don't have one.
  - Formatter for source code fixes indentation errors.
  - Continuous compilation shows errors as you make them.
- Download java.sun.com (with SDK), www.netbeans.org.
- Tutorials
  - faculty.ed.umuc.edu/~arnoldyl/NetBeansTutorials/
  - www.netbeans.org/kb/using-netbeans/36/index.html
  - www.netbeans.org/kb/basic.html

# Sun's SDK / JDK

- Sun Microsystems - Software/Java Development Kit
- This is mainly a compiler.
- Download from `java.sun.com` (53 MB).
  - Latest version is 1.5.0_06, earlier versions of 1.5 are ok too.
    `j2sdk-1_5_0_06-windows-i586-p.exe`
- Documentation
  j2sdk-1_5-doc.zip (34 MB), install in JDK `docs` directory.
- This compiler is the basis for most other Java tools.
- Must be used with a text editor (TextEdit, jEdit, Notepad (yech), ...)