Netbeans: The Definitive Guide

As the Java programming language has increased in both functionality and complexity, developers have demanded more of their program editors. Gone are the days when a simple visual editor is sufficient for even small programming projects. While there are numerous IDEs available today for use by Java developers, one stands above the rest, not only for its functionality, but for its extensibility: NetBeans.

In NetBeans: The Definitive Guide, you'll find out how to use this IDE to its fullest, making your Java programming more efficient and productive than ever before. You'll understand the basics of the IDE, and quickly be utilizing the various editor and explorer windows. You'll also master many of NetBeans advanced features, and be working with XML documents, CVS repositories, Javadoc trees, and web applications, all within the NetBeans framework.

In addition to teaching you how to use the existing features of NetBeans, this work goes on to cover developing additional modules for NetBeans. Through this instructional portion of the book, you will master the NetBeans APIs, and learn how to enhance NetBeans for your own specific needs. Whether you need to add customized behavior to handle your proprietary file formats, or want to redistribute NetBeans as a proprietary product, NetBeans: The Definitive Guide will allow you to master this open source IDE and all of its advanced features. Whether you are an enterprise developer looking for an IDE that can handle your complex program tasks, an open source developer looking to integrate NetBeans into your own visual projects, or a manager trying to maximize your team's development potential,NetBeans: The Definitive Guide is the book for you.

is a native of Massachusetts who has worked in the IT industry as a developer, writer, graphic artist on and off since the age of twelve. Following a hiatus as a literary theory major and musician, he returned to the world of computers at the age of 23 in response to the marvelous career opportunities for a student of literature during a recession, and the clamour of the IT world for his return. In the spring of 1999, he moved to the Czech Republic to work for a small company called NetBeans, which was soon to be acquired by Sun Microsystems, where he still lives and works. Tim can be found at most times perched with an underpowered laptop, deep in ascetic concentration in his monastic quarters high in the towers of Sun Microsystems in Prague. He is occasionally led outside, blinking in the twilight, to belt out blues tunes in smoky bars, on the advice of his physicians and Sun Microsystems' "Great Place to Work" program.

has worked on NetBeans since January 1999 in several capacities, including developing NetBeans core software, editing API documentation, and providing assistance for integrators. He joined Sun with the acquisition of NetBeans in the fall of 1999. He has spoken twice at JavaOne on NetBeans module development.

currently lives with his wife Nikki in Philadelphia PA, but is originally from the sunny island republic of Trinidad and Tobago. In the pursuit of money, education and all else that corrupts, he left his island paradise and currently works as a developer for Hewlett-Packard. Although he misses tropical breezes and an idyllic lifestyle, he enjoys being a software developer and the opportunity to work with interesting technical people like those on the NetBeans project. Besides technology, Simeon also enjoys poetry, classical literature, travel and underground hip-hop - of course.

began his programming career in 1967 on the physically largest computer ever built, the SAGE system's house-sized AN/FSQ-7. A freelance consultant since 1975, he worked with a wide range of computer hardware and languages, including several early personal computers before they were known as such. Vaughn currently writes technical articles about Sun ONE Studio and develops training materials for Sun.