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Ilja · Dec 15, 2002, 12:00 PM

Is there any simple, cocoa based nice ide for java applications? including j2ee? I don't need anything like projectbuilder, but a very nice simple good looking os x native ide. Preferably cocoa and free.

I tried projectbuilder, jedit, jjedit, netbeans, eclipse, but none of them seems to work really nice. I am getting spoiled with all these nice 'n simple good looking OS X apps (former windows user

)

jjedit is getting close (simple clean interface, not too cluttered, but could have more functionality.

I am trying to set up a good development package for weeks now without succes...

gheff · Dec 15, 2002, 03:17 PM

Originally posted by Ilja:

I tried projectbuilder, jedit, jjedit, netbeans, eclipse, but none of them seems to work really nice. I am getting spoiled with all these nice 'n simple good looking OS X apps (former windows user )

Man, you've already listed all the ones I was going to suggest. What exactly are you looking for in an IDE?

I find Eclipse a pleasure to use on my PC. (I'd run it on my Mac too, but it wants 10.2 and I'm only at 10.1.5.) I also like jEdit, but clearly neither of these is native OS X. Most of what I've seen in the way of Java tools are written in Java and are non-native.

#gheff

mrburri · Dec 15, 2002, 06:56 PM

are written in Java and are non-native.

I am so tired about those people who keep kicking Java. How are people ever take Java serious even even when those who develop in Java, do not have any faith in it, as a language and as an development platform?

Java is native - just because it more portable to other platforms and runs in a vm (which is common for many modern languages - even C# run's in a VM, no one will ever claim it is not native to Windows). Just because a language run's in a VM does not does not make it make non native language, it just makes it better in many ways.

Also since Java 1.4.1 Apple has made Java swing components the same as the Cocoa GUI elements, making Java app look super smooth, and outside of poor user interface design of many Java applications (Windows Java Developers, mostly - who have clue about good interface design), Java applications are as polished as any cocoa application.

Kristoff · Dec 15, 2002, 09:34 PM

I am a java developer.

Forte/NetBeans/SunOne Studio is THE IDE for java development.

yeslekmc · Dec 15, 2002, 10:16 PM

Originally posted by Kristoff:
Forte/NetBeans/SunOne Studio is THE IDE for java development.

Is SunOne Studio available for Mac OS X? I looked around on Sun's site but could only find downloads for Solaris 8 and Windoze 2000. Thanks!

mrburri · Dec 16, 2002, 05:14 AM

SunOne Studio IS available for Mac OS X. You need to do a small hack but it can be done in a breeze.

Just download the generic version for UNIX/Linux.

Just do a search for SunOne Studio and Mac OSX. There is a good tutorial on how to get it running.

absmiths · Dec 16, 2002, 10:18 AM

For J2EE stuff I find Forte (netbeans/Sun ONE) to be indispensable.

For other stuff, I use a combination of BBEdit/Project Builder/Ant.

Ilja · Dec 16, 2002, 12:22 PM

Thanks, gonna look into forte.

But there seems no really good working java development mac-environment. All those apps I tried work and have lots of functionality, but none of them has that nice look 'n feel of most mac apps. JJEdit is going in the right direction, but has far too less functionality so far.

itai195 · Dec 17, 2002, 02:01 AM

<flamesuit>i really do like jbuilder...</flamesuit>

Gul Banana · Dec 17, 2002, 03:34 AM

If the main thing you're looking for is a nice mac-like GUI, I don't see what's wrong with Project Builder.. it's not really all that complex a program.

Ilja · Dec 17, 2002, 09:36 AM

Well the main thing is that jbuilder doesn't seem to have code-completion and j2ee support...

timster · Dec 19, 2002, 10:13 AM

I got a lot of respect for my peers who use Forte, but I suggest you check out Eclipse. I know you said you tried it, but have you really given the latest milestone build (M3) a try? It's really rather nice, and I use it all the time for everything I do in java.

Of course, a pure Cocoa IDE would be nice, but that isn't going to happen until someone decides to code one, and well, I dont see anyone doing it yet.

Eclipse M4 promises to bring even better polish. And remember that since Eclipse uses native widgets (SWT), it's actually using native GUI stuff. Thats probably as close to native OS X as you will get.

However, it should be interesting to see how Swing looks with the new JDK 1.4.1 when it's finally released by Apple, now that they're making it Cocoa based instead of Carbon.

-tim

timster · Dec 19, 2002, 10:54 AM

Well, whattyda know, M4 just came out this morning. Checking it out....

itai195 · Dec 19, 2002, 02:22 PM

Originally posted by Ilja:
Well the main thing is that jbuilder doesn't seem to have code-completion and j2ee support...

You're right about J2EE but the personal version of jbuilder does have code completion.

Ilja · Dec 22, 2002, 08:41 AM

Decided to stick with Eclipse and am getting much more used with it. It's actually really good.

Now a decent MacOSX Eclipse icon in my Dock and I am happy