Welcome to the NetBeans Cookbook.
NetBeans is a Java Integrated Development Environment, IDE, which enables fast application development with the most adopted frameworks, technologies, and servers.
Different than other IDEs, NetBeans comes already pre-packaged with a wide range of functionality out of the box, such as support for different frameworks, servers, databases, and mobile development.
This book does require a minimal knowledge of Java platform, more specifically the language ifself. But the book might as well be used by either beginners, who are trying to dip their toes in new technology, or more experienced developers, who are trying to switch from other IDEs but want to decrease their learning curve of a new environment. NetBeans integrates so many different technologies, many of which are present in this book, that it is beyond the scope of this book to cover all of them in depth. We provide the reader with links and information where to go when further knowledge is required.
Chapter 1, NetBeans Head First introduces the developer to the basics of NetBeans by creating basic Java projects and importing Eclipse or Maven projects.
Chapter 2, Basic IDE Usage covers the creation of packages, classes, and constructors, as well as some usability feature.
Chapter 3, Designing Desktop GUI Applications goes through the process of creating a desktop application, then connecting it to a database and even modifying it to look more professional.
Chapter 4, JDBC and NetBeans helps the developer to setup NetBeans with the most common database systems on the market and shows some of the functionality built-in to NetBeans for handling SQL.
Chapter 5, Building Web Applications introduces the usage of web frameworks such as JSF, Struts, and GWT.3
Chapter 6, Using JavaFX explains the basic of JavaFX application states and connecting our JavaFX app to a web service interface.
Chapter 7, EJB Application goes through the process of building an EJB application which supports JPA, stateless, and stateful beans and sharing a service through a web service interface.
Chapter 8, Mobile Development teaches how to create your own CLDC or CDC applications with the help of NetBeans Visual Mobile Designer.
Chapter 9, Java Refactoring lets NetBeans refactor your code to extract classes, interfaces, encapsulate fields, and other options.
Chapter 10, Extending the IDE includes handy examples on how to create your own panels and wizards so you can extend the functionality of the IDE.
Chapter 11, Profiling and Testing covers NetBeans Profiler, HTTP Monitor, and integration with tools that analyze code quality and load generator.
Chapter 12, Version Control shows how to configure NetBeans to be used with the most common version control systems on the market.