What's New in the NetBeans IDE, Release 4.0 Dev


This document describes the new features implemented in the NetBeans IDE, Release 4.0 Dev. The list of the features is divided into several sections. Each section collects new features for related NetBeans modules. Most of the links in this document point to documents on the www.netbeans.org website.

Legend:

Feature Name: Name of the feature. You can click the name to get a full description of the feature.   [Significance: Major   Normal   Minor]

Module: The name of the module where the feature was implemented. You can click the module name to go to the module's home page.

Issue Tracking: Links to the Issuezilla tracking system for more details, where appropriate.


Contents:

  1. Open APIs
  2. NetBeans Core
  3. Java Development
  4. Debugger
  5. Text Editor
  6. Tools
  7. XML
  8. Web Development
  9. Version Control
  10. Distributed Applications Support
  11. Experimental Modules
  12. Miscellaneous Modules

Open APIs

New features for Open APIs
Feature NameModuleIssue Tracking
Looks API - create a stable versionOpen APIs#18177  
The complete full lists of new features: Open APIs, Open APIs Support

NetBeans Core

New features for NetBeans Core
Feature NameModuleIssue Tracking
[api] ProjectsEvent.getDescriptor redundancyProjects#29380  
[Window System] User view -- first draftCore IDE#26470  
Allow settings to be assigned to non-file objectsProjects#29810  
A ProjectObject stored in a setting with a broken link can never materialize DataObjectProjects#27718  
BuildTargetDescriptor should provide better implementation of getVisualObjectProjects#29340  
BuildTargetOutputFolder should fire an event when it creates the output folderProjects#31139  
Complete unit tests for the filesets APIProjects#27377  
configurations UIProjects#28583  
Consolidate EnvironmentProviders registery structureProjects#29177  
Convertors for FilesetsProjects#23289  
Create API for file manipulationProjects#29808  
Create central repository of links in the projectProjects#27958  
Create convertor for Project.ResolverProjects#29994  
Create customizer for Outputs NodeProjects#28585  
Create customizer for Project Main NodeProjects#30046  
Create o.n.spi.projects.settings packageProjects#30013  
Customize popup menu & properties of all Build TargetsProjects#29795  
Customize popup menu & properties of all resourcesProjects#29791  
Customize popup menu of all sourcesProjects#29786  
DataObjectFileSet listening on DataLoaderPool is expensiveProjects#28124  
Describe project profilesProjects#30142  
Describe XML contract for resource recognizersProjects#30029  
Detect deadlocksCore IDE#20249  
Enhance lookup of property editorsCore IDE#19899  
Expand project nodes when opening the projectProjects#26326  
Finalize 'Output Directories' tabProjects#29792  
Finalize customizer & actions of Resources NodeProjects#28584  
Finalize Sources Node's customizer & propertiesProjects#29785  
Finalize support for 'New Resource' wizardProjects#29789  
Finalize the Projects NodeProjects#29796  
folder iterator over inconsistent contentProjects#28050  
Implement popup menu of Project Main NodeProjects#29799  
Implement properties & actions of Outputs NodeProjects#29793  
Implement properties of Project Main NodeProjects#29798  
javax.naming.event.EventContext over system file systemCore IDE#19905  
LogicalView look should support customizationProjects#29797  
Looks API - create a stable versionCore IDE#18177  
MutableFileSet should implement java.util.ListProjects#31052  
Please create docs for using wizardsCore IDE#19860  
Property "name" should have disabled for two or more selected files in ExplorerCore IDE#19771  
ProxyFileSet has to declare protected constructor, not publicProjects#31146  
register environment provider that provides Project's implementation of settings contextProjects#27305  
Remember previously chosen directories and offer them by defaultProjects#27803  
Remove ProjectActionProjects#30003  
Rename conversion methods in FileSetsProjects#30573  
Replace Project.getName by Project.getIdProjects#30006  
Rewrite Settings API for new Registry API provided by coreProjects#32660  
Standard FileSets could have defined hashCode/equals for easy comparisonsProjects#27879  
Support clipboard operations on Resources NodeProjects#29790  
tab order in property sheets not intuitiveCore IDE#17184  
Template wizard (TemplateWizard2) should not display packageCore IDE#16858  
The IDE's cursor must change to hour glass icon when its processing stuffCore IDE#22890  
There should not be two DataObject for the same java.io.FileCore IDE#25661  
Update projects for new looks APIProjects#30008  
When closing OUTPUT WINDOW, focus should return to last component that had focusCore IDE#17280  
Writable JNDI lookup over system file systemCore IDE#19904  
Write overview of settings APIProjects#30024  
The complete full lists of new features: Core IDE, Auto Update, Projects

Java Development

New features for Java Development
Feature NameModuleIssue Tracking
[prj] Rewrite looks for JavaSources componentJava Support#23393  
Add as Java root actionJava Support#28640  
Add Internal Executor to java projectJava Support#27158  
API for Classpath roots and resources manipulation.Java Support#27153  
API for managing sources roots and compilation targetsJava Support#30474  
Check and update Java HierarchyJava Support#27481  
ClassPath API extensionsJava Support#23958  
ClassPath API extensionsJava Support#23958  
Classpath inheritanceJava Support#23953  
Classpath library itemsJava Support#23816  
Clean up identification of resources in ClassPath APIJava Support#29344  
Common storage mechanism for platform dataJava Support#23968  
Default platform definitionJava Support#26448  
Define API to query/filter library contentsJava Support#23828  
Design tools interaction with settingsJava Support#24003  
Detection of default PlatformJava Support#23969  
Differential customization of ClassPathJava Support#23957  
Dynamic/folder resource collectionsJava Support#23821  
Extend Java platform registryJava Support#25332  
Get rid of/deprecate FilterFactoriesJava Support#20306  
Implement `Master library list'Java Support#23815  
Implement compilation settingsJava Support#27475  
Implement External ExecutionJava Support#27480  
Implement Internal ExecutorJava Support#27479  
implement interproject links in JavaJava Support#29311  
Implement some replacement for ClassElement.forName.Java Support#26754  
Implement support for cross-compilationJava Support#27478  
Import other project's output as classpath itemJava Support#29322  
In project wizard, create sources/resources/outputs immediatelyJava Support#30410  
Java-core moduleJava Support#17205  
java excution profiles customizerJava Support#28656  
Java Root recognizerJava Support#28646  
Make it so JavaDataObject does not consume .class filesJava Support#29095  
new package actionJava Support#28647  
new project wizard - add java rootsJava Support#28635  
NFT for resourcesJava Support#28649  
NFT for sources in Java projectJava Support#28644  
Packages NodeJava Support#28642  
packages node customizer and propertiesJava Support#28643  
Platform API definitionJava Support#24015  
Platform definitionsJava Support#23964  
Platform registryJava Support#23973  
Platform Runtime LibrariesJava Support#23970  
Platorm defaults detectionJava Support#23965  
Pluggable platform probingJava Support#23967  
Project node customizer - Java tabJava Support#28633  
Provide access to interesting containers defined by Java natureJava Support#27477  
Provide ClassPath project servicesJava Support#23849  
Provide equivalent of .instance loaded from project pathsJava Support#27123  
Provide global classpath/classloaderJava Support#27826  
Remove java/archive APIJava Support#32596  
resource usage panelJava Support#28650  
Reusable classpath customizerJava Support#28651  
Review and update Compiled Classes build target implementationJava Support#27476  
SDK autodetectionJava Support#26447  
Split Java module to more manageable piecesJava Support#29360  
Tools categoriesJava Support#23999  
UI for classpath/javadoc/library resources manipulationJava Support#23826  
Update Java modules to new Looks APIJava Support#32676  
Update SettingsFactoryJava Support#32597  
The complete full lists of new features: Java Support, Class Support, JavaBeans, Javadoc, Form Editor

Debugger

New features for Debugger
Feature NameModuleIssue Tracking
The complete full lists of new features: Debugger

Text Editor

New features for Text Editor
Feature NameModuleIssue Tracking
Split editor module into multiple modulesText Editor#27138  
The complete full lists of new features: Text Editor

Tools

New features for Tools
Feature NameModuleIssue Tracking
Running Ant using different Ant version / classpathAnt Integration#20211  
The complete full lists of new features: Ant Integration, I18N, Image Files, JAR Packager, Properties Files, Scripting, Text Files, Utilities

XML

New features for XML
Feature NameModuleIssue Tracking
The complete full lists of new features: XML Project

Web Development

New features for Web Development
Feature NameModuleIssue Tracking
The complete full lists of new features: Applets, External Web Browser, Internal HTTP Server, JSPs & Web Applications

Version Control

New features for Version Control
Feature NameModuleIssue Tracking
Add a support for conditions into VCS profiles.Generic VCS#33693  
Design VCS APIs for projectsVCS Core#26768  
Integrate VCS functionality with the new core infrastructureVCS Core#27996  
The complete full lists of new features: VCS Core, Built-in CVS, Generic VCS

Distributed Applications Support

New features for Distributed Applications Support
Feature NameModuleIssue Tracking
Create a basic CORBA project infrastructureCORBA#27083  
Create an RMI nature and an RMI file setRMI#27078  
Create an RMI target template and migrate current templatesRMI#27079  
Design the CORBA projectCORBA#27080  
Design the RMI projectRMI#27077  
Move FileObject's attributes into the project objectRMI#27082  
UI SpecRMI#28246  
UI SpecCORBA#28247  
Use lookup insead of cookies.RMI#27086  
Use lookup instead of cookiesCORBA#27092  
The complete full lists of new features: RMI, CORBA

Experimental Modules

New features for Experimental Modules
Feature NameModuleIssue Tracking
The complete full lists of new features: C++ Support

Miscellaneous Modules

New features for Miscellaneous Modules
Feature NameModuleIssue Tracking
The complete full lists of new features: Support Interface Module, General Online Help, Third-party libraries