Best Java IDE | Most Popular Java IDE

Tutorialsrack 09/05/2021 Java Software Development

In this article, you’ll know about the best IDEs for the Java Programming language. Java is one of the widely used programming languages. Java is widely used for developing robust and secure desktop apps, enterprise applications, mobile apps, and web applications. 

While you can write your Java programs in a basic text editor, a Java IDE with helpful tools will increase your efficiency drastically. An IDE will contain a source code editor, build automation tools, and a debugger which makes Java programming easier. There are many free Java IDEs available in the market for working with Java, it can be hard to determine which Java IDE is best for you. While the most popular Java IDE’s in the world are Eclipse, IntelliJ IDEA, NetBeans, etc. and there are many other Java IDE’s available that you can use according to your specifications.

So check out the Best Java IDE’s in this article so that you can decide which Java IDE is best for you to use based on their features and your needs.

Best Java IDE’s & Compilers

1. Eclipse

Eclipse is an integrated development environment (IDE) for writing and compiling Java programs. It is written mostly in Java and its primary use is for developing Java applications, but it may also be used to develop applications in other programming languages via plug-ins, including C, C++, C#, COBOL, D, Erlang, Fortran, JavaScript, Julia, Perl, PHP, Prolog, Python, R, Ruby (including Ruby on Rails framework), Rust, Scala, and many other programming languages.

Platform: Linux, macOS, Windows, Solaris

License Fees: Free and Open source

Features:

• This software provides you with a ready-made code template.
• This tool automatically validates syntax.
• It supports code refactoring. (A process of improving internal code structure).
• Eclipse enables you to manage the project remotely.
• Eclipse has a user-friendly interface with a drag and drop facility.
• You can also extend the functionality of Eclipse using plugins.
• This software has a marketplace for installing plugins

Download Eclipse

2. IntelliJ IDEA

IntelliJ IDEA is a multi-purpose integrated development environment (IDE) written in Java that focuses on Java development.  It is developed by JetBrains (formerly known as IntelliJ) and is available as an Apache 2 Licensed community edition,  and in a proprietary commercial edition. Both versions of IntelliJ IDEA support various programming languages like Java, Scala, Kotlin, Groovy, etc. It also offers advanced support for web, mobile, and also hybrid application development.  

Platform: Linux, macOS, Windows

License Fees: Free(Community Edition) and Paid(Ultimate Edition)

Features:

• It analyses source code between all project files and languages.
• This tool gives a list of the most relevant symbols applicable in the current context.
• It allows cross-language refactoring.
• It provides support for JVM-based programming languages such as Kotlin, Groovy, and Scala.
• This tool searches duplicate code fragments on the fly.
• Inspections and quick fixes.
• Built-in version control support
• Strong plugin and integration support

Download IntelliJ IDEA

3. BlueJ

BlueJ is a free Java integrated development environment (IDE) designed for beginners and developed mainly for educational purposes, but BlueJ is also suitable for small-scale software development. This software enables you to scan code visually much faster. The tool offers many extensions to extend its functionality.

Platform: Linux, macOS, Windows

License Fees: Free

Features:

• It has a smaller, simple, and portable interface.
• It allows you to run Java objects while you run the program.
• You can use this tool without installing it.

Download BlueJ

4. MyEclipse

MyEclipse by CodeMix is a simple Java IDE. This software offers real-time validation of errors as you write the program. It enables you to customize themes. MyEclipse is a commercially available Java EE IDE created and maintained by the company Genuitec, a founding member of the Eclipse Foundation. MyEclipse is built upon the Eclipse platform and integrates both proprietary and open-source code into the development environment.

Platform: Linux, macOS, Windows

License Fees: Paid

Features:

• Supports intelligent code editing with content assist, instant validation, syntax highlighting, navigational help (breadcrumb toolbar and minimap view)
• Get a live preview of your code with an integrated CodeLive tool
• It allows you to set breakpoints.
• Offers a robust debugger.
• It has a built-in Tomcat server.
• Integrated MySQL, SQL Server, and Sybase support
• Enhanced J2EE support for all notable frameworks like Spring, JPA, JSF, Jquery, and Cordova

Download MyEclipse

5. Xcode

Xcode is Apple's integrated development environment (IDE) for macOS, used to develop software for macOS, iOS, iPadOS, watchOS, and tvOS. It was first released in 2003. Xcode supports source code for the programming languages C, C++, Objective-C, Objective-C++, Java, AppleScript, Python, Ruby, ResEdit (Rez), and Swift, with a variety of programming models, including but not limited to Cocoa, Carbon, and Java. Third parties have added support for GNU Pascal, Free Pascal, Ada, C#, Go, Perl, and D. 

Platform: macOS

License Fees: Free 

Features:

• You can quickly open any file.
• It allows you to compare two files graphically.
• You can debug the program easily using Xcode debugger.
• Xcode offers an assistant editor that shows helpful files like callers, header counterparts, etc.

Download Xcode

6. Apache NetBeans

Apache NetBeans IDE is an open-source integrated development environment for writing Java programs. NetBeans allows applications to be developed from a set of modular software components called modules. In addition to Java development, it has extensions for other languages like PHP, C, C++, HTML5, and JavaScript.  

Platform: Linux, macOS, Windows, Solaris

License Fees: Free

Features:

• Cross-platform support

• Multiple language support
• Visual debugger
• NetBeans Profiler
• Static analysis tools
• Project management
• Batch code analyzers
• Code converters

Download Apache NetBeans

7. jGRASP

jGRASP is a lightweight development environment that includes the automatic creation of software visualizations. It produces static visualizations of source code structure and visualizations of data structures at runtime. jGRASP is implemented in Java and runs on all platforms with a JVM (Java Virtual Machine)

Platform: Linux, macOS, Windows, Solaris

License Fees: Free

Features:

• This tool offers a graphical debugger.
• The source code can be easily folded depending on CSD (Control Structure Diagram) structure.
• This tool provides syntax-based coloring.
• jGRASP has icons and menus for compiling, running and debugging any program.

Download jGrasp

8. Codenvy

Codenvy is an open-source cloud-based IDE. This application includes a multi-user remote development platform. It also contains an SDK(System Development Kit) for creating plug-ins for languages, frameworks, or tools.

Platform: Linux, macOS, Windows, Solaris

License Fees: Free with limitations and Paid version

Features:

• It allows you to access projects from more than one device.
• It includes code completion, syntax highlighting, and refactoring
• Programmers can share the workspace.
• Offers extensions and APIs.
• You can effortlessly operate your cloud the way you need it.
• It allows you to work online as well as offline and offers a command-line interface for push, pulls, and clone.
• It also offers one-click Docker environments, team onboarding and collaboration, and DevOps workspaces.
• It can automate the lifecycle of the workspace.

Download Codenvy

9. Slickedit

SlickEdit is a cross-platform commercial source code editor, text editor, code editor and Integrated Development Environment developed by SlickEdit, Inc. SlickEdit supports Integrated Debuggers for GNU C/C++, Java, WinDbg, Clang C/C++ LLDB, Groovy, Google Go, Python, Perl, Ruby, PHP, Xcode, and Android JVM/NDK. It gives programmers the ability to code in over 70 languages on 9 platforms. This tool can load large files quickly.

Platform: Windows, macOS, Linux, Solaris, etc.

License Fees: Paid

Features:

• You can customize menu items.
• Multiple Document Group Interface.
• Multiple Cursors and Selections.
• It enables you to open a file without typing a path.
• Easy to integrate Subversion, CVS, etc.
• You can expand a common block structure.
• It can automatically format code when pasted.
• You can create multi-platform GUI dialogue boxes.
• Syntax-driven Searching.
• Regex Evaluator.
• Recorded and Programmable Macros.
• This software automatically saves the file after a period of inactivity.

Download Slickedit

10. JDeveloper

JDeveloper is a freeware IDE provided by Oracle Corporation that can simplify Java-based applications. This IDE enables you to manage the full software development lifecycle from design through coding, debugging, optimization and profiling to deploying. It offers features for development in Java, XML, SQL, PL/SQL, HTML, JavaScript, BPEL, and PHP.

Platform: Windows, macOS, Linux, Generic/others.

License Fees: Free

Features:

• Full development lifecycle management
• Visual & declarative editors
• Java SE(Standard Edition) & java EE(Enterprise Edition) environments
• Full database development environment
• Visual HTML 5 editor
• Drag-and-drop functionality
• Web & mobile app development
• Oracle fusion middleware

Download JDeveloper

12. JEdit

JEdit is a Java Integrated development environment. It is a free software text editor available under the GNU General Public License version 2.0. It is written in Java and runs on any operating system with Java support, including BSD, Linux, macOS, and Windows.

Platform: Windows, macOS, Linux, Generic/others.

License Fees: Free

Features:

• It enables you to download/ save Java plugins using the plugin manager in your computer.
• It is highly customizable and configurable.
• This software provides keyboard commands for manipulating lines, paragraphs, and words.
• The software offers unlimited undo/redo features.
• Copy-paste with unlimited clipboards.
• Developers can get comprehensive online help.
• It enables you to use keyboard shortcuts.
• Supports UTF-8 and many other encodings.
• Includes syntax highlighting that provides native support for over 200 file formats
• Extensive code folding and text folding capabilities as well as text wrapping that takes indents into account.
• Over 150 available jEdit plug-ins for many different application areas.

Download JEdit

13. Greenfoot

Greenfoot is a Java IDE that was developed for providing education to high school and undergraduate students. It is free software that is maintained with support from Oracle.

Platform: Windows, macOS, Linux, Solaris, and any recent JVM.

License Fees: Free

Features:

•  Allows easy development of two-dimensional graphical applications, such as simulations and interactive games.
• The interface is a full IDE which includes project management, auto-completion, syntax highlighting, and other tools common to most IDEs.
• Allows you to publish your work both on and offline.
• This software is visual and interactive. Visualization and interaction tools are built into the environment.
• It has the ability to display many OOPS features such as class & object relationships, methods, object interactions, parameters, etc.
• Also, it has easy access to animation and sound as it was intended to be a learning medium.
• It provides an easy transition into other environments, such as BlueJ and more professional IDEs.

Download Greenfoot

14. DrJava

DrJava is a lightweight IDE for writing Java programs. It is designed primarily for students, providing an intuitive interface and the ability to interactively evaluate Java code. It is actively developed and maintained by the JavaPLT group at Rice University and DrJava is available for free under the BSD License. 

Platform: Windows, macOS, Linux, Generic/others.

License Fees: Free

Features:

• It has a remarkably clutter-free interface.
• DrJava flaunts the ability to interactively evaluate Java code from a console and to present the output within the same console.
• It assists the programmers with features like go to line and find/replace.
• For advanced programmers, this software offers auto-completion, automatic indentation, brace matching, commenting, and syntax coloring.
• On top of all, it can also be integrated into Eclipse via a plugin.
• Unlike other Java IDEs, it has a consistent appearance on different platforms. This is because it is designed using Sun Microsystems’ Swing toolkit.
• Unit testing tool

Download DrJava

15. JCreator

JCreator is a Java IDE created by Xinox Software. The interface of this IDE is very similar to that of Microsoft’s Visual Studio. It is a lightweight Java IDE.

Platform: Windows

License Fees: Paid

Features:

• It is available in three distinct variants; Lite Edition, Pro Edition, and Life-Pro Edition.
• The paid version of JCreator comes with Ant support, code wizards, and a debugger.
• Despite there being other leading Java IDEs, JCreator is developed entirely in C++. In addition to that, it doesn’t require a JRE for executing Java code. For this particular reason, the developer community advocates that JCreator is faster than most conventional Java-based IDEs.
• Custom color schemes
• Wrapping around your existing projects
• Different JDK profiles can be used
• Quick code writing via project templates
• Easy project viewing with the class browser
• Debugging with an easy, intuitive interface. No command-line prompts necessary
• Wizards help you cut to the chase writing your project, quickly and easily
• Automatic Classpath configuration
• UI customization (similar to Microsoft Visual Studio)
• The run-time environment can run your application as an applet, in a JUnit environment, or in a command-line window
• JCreator's IDE does not require a Java Runtime Environment to execute, which may make it faster than Java-based IDE's.
• Robot packages can be uploaded, also by using inheritance the users can create new variables, objects, and classes as well as methods.

Download JCreator

Conclusion

In this article, as you can see, there are a number of IDE's options available for Java developers, starting from fully-featured commercial software to free and open-source ones. IDE gives the developer a platform to improve their coding skills with code completion, code suggestion, error highlighting, and many other features. It increases efficiency with faster coding and minimal effort. It allows collaboration among developers to work together on one platform. Good project management feature. The choice of the Java IDE depends on your current project and personal preference. 

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