Java Workstations

[Methos]

Anyone know of a good java compiler/work station to use? The class I'm taking has us using eclipse, but I'm having trouble with it. Sometimes it allows me to run my program as an application and sometimes it wants to run it as a plug-in. I seem to have the least trouble when I put all my methods in one class and call them from another class. When I put everything in one class, it won't let me run it as an application.

I'm obviously doing something wrong and I don't like using eclipse. Hopefully someone knows of a better work station.

 

[Methos]

I figured out my problem with my program, but that doesn't change my desire for a better workstation. I wish I was able to run java on Visual Studio.

 

[Till]

Eclipse is generally considered as one of the better environments, but tastes differ, of course. Netbeans and emacs are the other two popular Java enviroments at my uni.

I have to say though, that maybe the problem lies with your code. Putting all methods into one class is generally a very bad idea. In order to run your programme as application, right-click on the main class, and select "Run"->"Run as Java Application".

The main class needs a main method, of course. I attached an example for a class containing a main method bellow. Hope it helps!

Spoiler :

public class Programme
{
	public static void main(String[] args) throws Exception
        {
              YourMainClass mainclass = new YourMainClass();           
	}
}

 

[Methos]

My other assignments had strictly called for one class to call methods in another. This assignment didn't, so I thought I'd make it easier on myself. Turns out what I did was I dropped the static statement in my main method, so I could call my other methods. When I put static back in, I was able to run it as an application.

Looks like it would have been easier to do it with two classes after all. Oh well, easily changeable.

Thanks for the links. I'll look into them.

 

[Shadylookin]

eclipse and netbeans are the big boys on the block when it comes to java IDEs. I prefer eclipse because with plug-ins you can use almost any programing language(netbeans only has C and C++ plugins that I'm aware of).

 

[Methos]

Thanks! A friend of mine who is a java program also suggests sticking with eclipse, so I'll just have to dig in and get used to it. Thanks everyone.

 

[Quintillus]

I've been using NetBeans and like it a lot. It has a really good interface, good error-tracing mechanisms, and just is logical to work with. Admittingly, I never worked with Eclipse long enough to figure it out, but I'd recommend NetBeans as an alternative.

My professor is a published author on Java, so at least some of the experts prefer NetBeans - it is indeed a matter of personal taste.

 

[Genocidicbunny]

We use jCreator at school which isnt that bad in its own either. Im not sure though how much you will like it.

 

[Methos]

My professor is a published author on Java, so at least some of the experts prefer NetBeans - it is indeed a matter of personal taste.

So far I have a very dim view of my professor. It's an online course and the first week he posted he wouldn't have internet access. Tomorrow will be the end of our second week and of the eight programs I wrote last week, only four of them are graded. I'm emailed him a couple of times with questions and his answers are extremely short and only a single sentence, if that. It's only an eight week course, so I hope he gets better quickly.

 

[Jamesds]

I have to agree with the posts above, Eclipse and Netbeans are held in high regard by most for Java Programming. I also like JCreator (http://www.jcreator.com/). One thing that JCreator Lite lacks (which the full $$ version does have) is autocompletion, which I find rather useful when using classes and packages I'm not familiar with.

At my University we use Together 2006, which is basically Eclipse with UML Modelling capabilities (you can draw a UML diagram, and it is converted into code, providing you with a framework in which to implement). I find it rather slow and troublesome at times, and prefer using Netbeans/JCreator.