help with code compiler/builder

[triska]

Hey guys
im in this java class...data structures sound familiar? haha
anyways, I was wondering if there is any program I can use to help build code
or what not, I sorta remember something called eclipse? or something of that sort
that like color codes your code
and compiles and helps you debug
if anyone knows of such a thing
please let me know
im also on aim
phantazn311
please let me know asap
once again, thanks everyone
have a good day

evn tho im sick in bed and having to write code..=(

 

[George P Burdell]

jcreator is nice for intro java courses.... eclipse may not be your cup of tea
use google

 

[Krk3561]

I like eclipse, its my favorite environment, it has a great debugger. Netbeans is another alternative thats pretty good.

http://www.eclipse.org/

 

[SirPsycho]

Debuggers can be very helpful as a tool of last resort, but writing comprehensive unit tests should be your first line of defense against bugs.

JUnit is your friend. You don't have to subscribe to the rest of the "extreme programming" (what a retarded name) philosophy for unit testing to be the most valuable tool in your arsenal. It will seem like it takes longer to write the code when you have to write tests before you write code, but when you factor in the hours it takes to track down bugs, it's all worth it. The first time you change a piece of code in one part of your code, re-run your tests, and catch that it caused a problem in another part of your code, you'll realize that it's all worth it.

 

[mwtgg]

Use the j2sdk in the commandline with EditPlus for syntax highlighting, all the 1337 people do.

Well, there's Jbuilder personal, and Eclipse. I'm sure many people will (and have) mention other programs.

 

[mattlear]

Be careful about using an IDE for your Data Structures class.

Make sure the professor is ok with it. I took a class at Stevens a few years back, and granted, it was on Java development, but one of the projects was to write a simple IDE. Some people used an IDE to help facilitate their project... and got a big fat ZERO for a grade.

Ok, that seems like common sense, but just ask the professor, to be safe.

I use JBuilder here at work. It's got a lot of crap though that you aren't going to need (heck , we don't even use half the stuff that comes with it)

Check out UltraEdit or one of those nifty notepad equivalents. It will help with syntax and stuff.

Also, if you are doing any windowing (Swing, AWT) it's nice to learn how to do that without the IDE at first. That way, you understand how a JFrame works, etc.

Hope that helps,

-Matt