About IDE

Generally, a java programmer starts programming with a notepad. To compile and run a program, a programmer uses javac and java commands at the command prompt window. Notepad doesn’t help a programmer to track the improper java syntax while programming. This makes programming a bit uncomfortable.Hence, Integrated Development Environments (IDEs) are developed to provide best solution to ease the programmer’s task.

IDE is a smart editor that equips a programmer with features like editing, compiling, deploying, debugging etc.. IDE abstracts the programming complexities and reduces the applications development time hence it enhances the productivity. IDE may provide services
itself or enables using plug-ins developed and provided by third party. A programmer can choose IDEs according to the set of tools and features required.

IDEs have become very powerful as RAD (Rapid Application Development) solutions. Most of the available IDEs understand java and its structure that enables to develop a better code. There are many IDEs in use like Eclipse, JDeveloper, JBuilder, NetBeans, Sun Java Studio Creator and many more. Sun has provided NetBeans, Sun Studio, Java Studio Enterprise (JSE), Java Studio Creator (JSC).

An IDE may include:

• Wizard that generate program for particular technology.
• Support for automatic unit testing.
• Wizard to import and export UML data into XMI format. This enables the programmer to interchange UML data between different applications.
• Generation of jars, wars, ears at deployment time.
• Support for custom Plug-In.
• Support for debugging the code.
• Plug-In for different application servers.
• Memory profiler and Memory leakage detection tools