IDE-wide QuickSearch

Use the Ctrl-i shortcut to do a context-sensitive search throughout the IDE, the help sets, and all open projects. You will find the search term not only in files, types or symbols, but also all related menu actions, option panels and documentation.

Custom Installer

Select the NetBeans IDE download that provides the features you need. You can either choose the download with all features and then configure the installation so that only the features you need actually get installed, or you can choose one of the smaller downloads that has a subset of the features.

Plugin Manager

You can always use the Plugins Manager from the Tools menu to add, remove or update sets of features for Java SE, Java EE, Java ME, Groovy, PHP and C/C++ development, including a wide variety of other features from third-party providers.

Customize Your Projects

You can set up properties and compilation dependencies between your projects and use relative library paths to make projects sharable, and store various project configurations for different development phases. The IDE builds binary executables and archive files in a number of formats, including JAR, WAR, EAR, NBM, JNLP Web Start, and ZIP files, ready for distribution.

Templates and Sample Applications

You can create free-form projects based on an existing build script and sources or create projects from a template. The IDE comes with templates and sample projects for Java SE applications, mobile applications, web applications, enterprise applications, NetBeans plugins, Groovy, PHP, and C and C++ applications.

Databases and Services

The Services window gives you access to all your databases and web servers, as well as web services and enterprise JavaBeans (EJBs). You can start and stop servers directly in the IDE.

Task List

The NetBeans Task List automatically scans your code and lists commented lines containing words such as "TODO" or "FIXME", and lines with compile errors, quick fixes, and style warnings. Connect to a bug database (e.g. Issuezilla, Bugzilla, java.net, Scarab) and list issue reports for your project right in the IDE.

Sliding Windows, Multiple Monitors

The IDE's workspace is fully customizable: Customize the actions in the toolbar and drag and position tabs in the IDE window to suit your individual workflow. You can undock any editor tab by dragging and dropping it outside the IDE to turn it into an independent window that you can move to a second screen. To reintegrate the tab into the IDE window, drag and drop it back.

Project Groups

Project groups allow you to define sets of related projects. This allows you to quickly open and close several grouped projects in one step.