Apache NetBeans
Quickly and easily develop desktop, mobile, and web applications with Java, JavaScript, HTML5, PHP, C/C++ and more.
Overview
Apache NetBeans is an integrated development environment for Java. NetBeans allows applications to be developed from a set of modular software components called modules. NetBeans runs on Windows, macOS, Linux and Solaris. In addition to Java development, it has extensions for other languages like PHP, C, C++, HTML5, and JavaScript. It is known for providing a good out-of-the-box experience with minimal setup.
✨ Key Features
- Support for Java, PHP, HTML5, JavaScript, and C/C++ out of the box
- Visual debugger
- Code templates and code generation tools
- Project management tools
- GUI builder for Swing applications
🎯 Key Differentiators
- Excellent out-of-the-box experience for multiple languages (Java, PHP)
- Strong GUI builder for Java Swing
- Governed by the Apache Software Foundation
- Simple and easy to get started with
Unique Value: Provides a complete, multi-language IDE experience for free with zero configuration, making it one of the easiest ways to start developing Java or PHP applications.
🎯 Use Cases (4)
✅ Best For
- Developing Java Swing applications with the GUI builder
- Building and debugging PHP applications
💡 Check With Vendor
Verify these considerations match your specific requirements:
- Developers who prioritize a modern UI and performance
- Large-scale enterprise Java development (where IntelliJ or Eclipse are more common)
- Python or Ruby development
🏆 Alternatives
Easier to set up than Eclipse and completely free unlike IntelliJ IDEA Ultimate, making it a strong choice for education and multi-language developers.
💻 Platforms
✅ Offline Mode Available
🔌 Integrations
💰 Pricing
Free tier: Completely free and open-source.
🔄 Similar Tools in Code Editors
Visual Studio Code
A free, open-source code editor from Microsoft for Windows, Linux, and macOS....
Sublime Text
A sophisticated, cross-platform text editor for code, markup, and prose....
IntelliJ IDEA
A powerful and ergonomic IDE for Java and other JVM languages....
Neovim
A modern, highly extensible, and community-driven fork of the Vim text editor....
Notepad++
A lightweight and efficient source code editor for Microsoft Windows....
Zed
A modern, GPU-accelerated code editor focused on performance and collaboration....