Sam's Rant: Java IDEs

I have now reviewed four IDEs developed by some of the major players in the IDE market. None of them do what I need them to do for me to commit to one IDE exclusively. What do I ask for in an IDE? Let's list the pieces I want to see in a complete IDE:

• Uses as much of the built-in functionality of Java as possible.

This must include things like layouts, widgets, utility classes, even compiling with the JDK over the built-in compiler. I want the generated code to look like I wrote it.

• Has an excellent editor.

Why should I suffer through using something akin to Notepad? The editor should highlight, insert files, provide context-sensitive help, open more than one document at a time, etc. Only J++ comes close on the editor side. Maybe that is why I use J++ for all my Java editing regardless of which IDE I use?

• Provides as much functionality as possible through the graphical interface.

Through the interface I should be able to set properties of objects, insert code for events, do simple events without code at all, multi-thread the application/applet, or debug. I think that Workshop comes closest in most of those areas, although Cafe has a simpler interface.

• Is faster and more efficient than using the JDK, Emacs, Make, and the Unix shell.

Personally, I like developing with Emacs and make. Developing under Windows 95 should be just as much fun if not more. Either that or someone has to buy me Solaris for Intel.

I guess what I am getting to is that Java IDEs have a long way to go before I am satisfied, maybe version 2.0?

Sam Pullara
spullara@suba.com

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