Advantages of Eclipse and Netbeans

[measekite]

I am beginning to learn Pyhton and then I intend to learn Java.

For my intro into Python I am using IDLE. Shortly I want to get into either Eclipse or Netbeans. I know that there are many who have strong opinions of each but knowledge of that interest will only go a short way for my decision making.

I would really like to know the advantages and disadvantages of Eclipse for my purpose and also the advantages and disadvantages of Netbeans.

I would also like to know what versions and plugins to choose.

I highly value an ability to have a dropdown and list appropriate function available for the tast at hand and also a drop down that lists the arguments and some syntax. I know that Visual Studio has this and I think it is called intellisence. But I choose not to go back to Windows for all the reasons that we all know.

Thanks in advance.

[GNU-Fan]

I would really like to know the advantages and disadvantages of Eclipse for my purpose and also the advantages and disadvantages of Netbeans.

I would also like to know what versions and plugins to choose.

I highly value an ability to have a dropdown and list appropriate function available for the tast at hand and also a drop down that lists the arguments and some syntax. I know that Visual Studio has this and I think it is called intellisence. But I choose not to go back to Windows for all the reasons that we all know.

Hi,

when I migrated to GNU/Linux, I was missing&looking for the same. Both application have this IntelliSense feature. I decided on NetBeans because I couldn't stand the ridicules slowness of Eclipse (was like waiting 15 seconds each time before the suggestion popup came up.)

Both applications have a plethora of plugins and its easy to write your own.

The only thing I would reproach NetBeans for is its own distinctive Java look which doesn't blend too well into my Gnome desktop. But there are skins available by now.

PS:
For some time now, I grow enjoying to use a simple syntax-highlighting and a continuously opened terminal window more and more. Somehow it feels more natural in the Unix environment and I feel more productive. But if you come fresh from Windows, you usually want a IDE for the first days.

[Thrillhouse]

I am beginning to learn Pyhton and then I intend to learn Java.

For my intro into Python I am using IDLE. Shortly I want to get into either Eclipse or Netbeans. I know that there are many who have strong opinions of each but knowledge of that interest will only go a short way for my decision making.

I would really like to know the advantages and disadvantages of Eclipse for my purpose and also the advantages and disadvantages of Netbeans.

There's really not enough of a difference between the two to give you a list of advantages/disadvantages of using one over the other. They're almost the same except for some minor differences in appearance. Functionally and feature-wise, they're practically the same.

Of course, that's not to say that you wouldn't prefer one over the other. I recommend trying both and seeing which one feels more comfortable.

I would also like to know what versions and plugins to choose.

For version, obviously you'd want to go with the latest. For Netbeans, that would be version 6.5 and for Eclipse, I think the latest is called ganymede. What plugins you'd need would depend on what more you'd need out of the IDE that does not come out of the box. However, both have a wide variety of plugins to choose from along with a large user community that develops them. I only use a few plugins so I couldn't tell you whose are better.

I highly value an ability to have a dropdown and list appropriate function available for the tast at hand and also a drop down that lists the arguments and some syntax. I know that Visual Studio has this and I think it is called intellisence. But I choose not to go back to Windows for all the reasons that we all know.

As GNU-Fan mentioned, both IDEs come with this feature so you don't have to worry about that.

I've come to prefer Netbeans over Eclipse simply because it makes more intuitive sense to me than Eclipse does. I also think they make it easy to change the things that don't make sense. But I only use it for Java and not Python, C/C++, Ruby or anything else so perhaps there are some things that Eclipse offers in those areas that Netbeans does not. Like I said, what you need out of your IDE is likely to be different than what someone else needs and that's why I recommend trying them both.

Good luck.

[techieMoe]

when I migrated to GNU/Linux, I was missing&looking for the same. Both application have this IntelliSense feature. I decided on NetBeans because I couldn't stand the ridicules slowness of Eclipse [on my system] (was like waiting 15 seconds each time before the suggestion popup came up.)

Text in brackets is mine. I thought it necessary to point out that this is not typical behavior for Eclipse. I have witnessed no such slowdowns on several different machines and operating systems, and I also use Eclipse at work. That's not to say it may not feel slow to some people compared to something else, just that I've never run into the performance issues mentioned here.

For some time now, I grow enjoying to use a simple syntax-highlighting and a continuously opened terminal window more and more. Somehow it feels more natural in the Unix environment and I feel more productive. But if you come fresh from Windows, you usually want a IDE for the first days.

I actually recommend the opposite. For the "first days" of programming I highly recommend using just a syntax-highlighted text editor of some sort and compiling everything from the command line. This gives you a primer on how the underlying system works and shows you the steps that happen under the covers when you compile something in an IDE.

When you get to the point where you need to juggle dozens of source files and link them together, that's when I recommend an IDE. Makefiles work, but they're not the most intuitive thing for some people. A GUI debugger (as provided in an IDE) can be quite useful as well.

[Thrillhouse]

Text in brackets is mine. I thought it necessary to point out that this is not typical behavior for Eclipse. I have witnessed no such slowdowns on several different machines and operating systems, and I also use Eclipse at work. That's not to say it may not feel slow to some people compared to something else, just that I've never run into the performance issues mentioned here.

Yeah, it's probably some kind of project configuration setting that's causing that, perhaps a very large classpath or something like that.

I actually recommend the opposite. For the "first days" of programming I highly recommend using just a syntax-highlighted text editor of some sort and compiling everything from the command line. This gives you a primer on how the underlying system works and shows you the steps that happen under the covers when you compile something in an IDE.

When you get to the point where you need to juggle dozens of source files and link them together, that's when I recommend an IDE. Makefiles work, but they're not the most intuitive thing for some people. A GUI debugger (as provided in an IDE) can be quite useful as well.

I completely agree and I've said this before too. You really don't gain an appreciation for what an IDE can provide for you until you've fumbled around on the command-line for a while.