NetBeans (TM) IDE 4.1 Early Access Release is now available.

This early access release has over 15 new modules for developing Java 2 Platform, Enterprise Edition (J2EETM) 1.4 applications and is built on the novel and breakthrough NetBeans 4.0 technology. Users can develop programs for Java 2 Platform, Standard Edition (J2SETM), Java 2 Platform, Micro Edition (J2METM), and now J2EE Enterprise Java Bean (EJB) components and Web Services. Using the free SunTM Java System Application Server Platform Edition 8.1 Release Candidate as the deployment runtime and with NetBeans guiding the developer and automatically building the underlying J2EE infrastructure, learning about and developing J2EE 1.4 applications has never been easier. To further assist the developer, J2EE Java BluePrints catalog is also included.

With a pure Java technology integrated development environment and cross platform availability for Windows, Linux and the SolarisTM Operating System, this is the best time to get a look at the future.

The next release is the Beta release and planned for February, 2005.

Key Features

Create an EJB Module (Container Managed Persistence, Message Driven Beans and Session Beans)

. The NetBeans IDE guides the user through the process to easily learn how to write MDBs, CMP EJB components as well as Session Beans.
. Deployment Descriptor editing is available through both a visual and XML editor with code completion and validation.
. All infrastructure methods are generated automatically and are hidden in a power code fold.
. The NetBeans project structure matches J2EE Java BluePrints standards (integrated into the release) and relies on the Ant open standard for the build system.

Develop Web Services

. Developers can create Web Services from existing Java files, WSDL or scratch and deploy, package and test them from the IDE.
. Developers can register existing Web Services to the IDE, and then easily add the code that will call these Web Services.
. Developers can test all the registered Web Services from the IDE by simply entering the input parameters of each operation.
. The NetBeans IDE guides the user through the process to easily learn how to write EJB components and J2EE Applications to select a web service and perform required tasks.

Other J2EE Elements

. Enhanced Debugger so that you can see just your application code stack; not the server runtime stack.
. Improved J2EE Project logical views: libraries, deployment descriptors, and unit tests.
. Improved J2EE artifacts consumption: Call EJB component,Send Message, Use Database, Use Web Service.
. Refactoring is available for code and deployment descriptors.
. J2EE verifier tool integrated into this release.

For downloads of this release go to:
http://www.netbeans.org/downloads/index.html

For the quick start guide, see:
http://www.netbeans.org/kb/41/quickstart-j2ee.html

Great Web Services support and including the J2EE Java BluePrints catalog is a nice addition.

Does anyone know of any reliable market share data for IDEs?

PJ Murray
CodeFutures
http://www.codefutures.com

http://servlets.com/polls/results.tea?name=javaide

Java IDE poll

nice ide, but I still prefer Eclipse....

nice ide, but I still prefer Eclipse....

I'm interested. What plugins do you use with Eclipse as the standard version does not include any J2EE support. Are you doing everything manually or are there some nice plugins I should know about.

I use myeclipseide as J2EE plugin - its pretty good. Has great support imo and doesn't cost much.

is long awaited AspectJ support included ?

The really nice feature of 4.1 ea2 is the latest mobility plugin for J2ME (separate download).

What bugs me is that when creating a web service operation using the wizard only simple types int,float,String,double etc. are supported. No support for int[] or complex types e.g. a WeatherReport.