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| <!-- Copyright (c) 2009, 2010, Oracle and/or its affiliates. All rights reserved. --> |
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| <h1>The NetBeans E-commerce Tutorial - Introduction</h1> |
| |
| <div style="margin-left:-3px"> |
| <div class="feedback-box margin-around float-left" style="margin-right:15px"> |
| |
| <h4>Tutorial Contents</h4> |
| |
| <ol> |
| <li><strong>Introduction</strong> |
| |
| <ul style="margin: 5px 0 0 -2em"> |
| <li><a href="#about">About this Tutorial</a></li> |
| <li><a href="#whatEcommerce">What is an E-commerce Application?</a></li> |
| <li><a href="#whatJava">What is Java?</a></li> |
| <li><a href="#jcp">What is the Java Community Process?</a></li> |
| <li><a href="#ide">Why use an IDE?</a></li> |
| <li><a href="#netBeans">Why use NetBeans?</a></li> |
| <li><a href="#seeAlso">See Also</a></li> |
| </ul></li> |
| |
| <li><a href="design.html">Designing the Application</a></li> |
| <li><a href="setup-dev-environ.html">Setting up the Development Environment</a></li> |
| <li><a href="data-model.html">Designing the Data Model</a></li> |
| <li><a href="page-views-controller.html">Preparing the Page Views and Controller Servlet</a></li> |
| <li><a href="connect-db.html">Connecting the Application to the Database</a></li> |
| <li><a href="entity-session.html">Adding Entity Classes and Session Beans</a></li> |
| <li><a href="manage-sessions.html">Managing Sessions</a></li> |
| <li><a href="transaction.html">Integrating Transactional Business Logic</a></li> |
| <li><a href="language.html">Adding Language Support</a></li> |
| <li><a href="security.html">Securing the Application</a></li> |
| <li><a href="test-profile.html">Testing and Profiling</a></li> |
| <li><a href="conclusion.html">Conclusion</a></li> |
| </ol> |
| </div> |
| </div> |
| |
| <p><img src="../../../../images_www/articles/68/netbeans-stamp-68-69.png" class="stamp" |
| alt="Content on this page applies to NetBeans IDE, versions 6.8 and 6.9" |
| title="Content on this page applies to NetBeans IDE, versions 6.8 and 6.9"></p> |
| |
| <p>Welcome to the NetBeans E-commerce Tutorial. In this multi-part tutorial, you |
| learn how to create a simple yet effective e-commerce application that demonstrates |
| various important features of Java web and EE development. In doing so, you'll |
| familiarize yourself with the NetBeans IDE and become capable of applying it to |
| your own development purposes.</p> |
| |
| <p>Taking the time to master the IDE will ultimately lead you to become more efficient |
| and versatile as a developer. While you work through the tutorial units, you'll learn |
| how to make best use of the IDE's facilities and tools. These include:</p> |
| |
| <ul style="margin-left: 320px" class="toc"> |
| <li><strong>Editor support for different languages:</strong> syntax highlighting, |
| code completion, API documentation support, keyboard shortcuts, refactoring |
| capabilities, and code templates</li> |
| |
| <li><strong>Window system:</strong> Projects, Files and Services windows, the |
| Tasks window, Javadoc window, HTTP Monitor, Navigator and Palette</li> |
| |
| <li><strong>Integration with other services: </strong>automatic deployment to |
| a registered server, database connectivity, browser interoperability</li> |
| |
| <li><strong>Development tools:</strong> Debugger, Profiler, HTTP Server |
| Monitor, Local History support, and a graphical Diff Viewer</li> |
| </ul> |
| |
| <p>The tutorial is modular in fashion, with each unit focusing on specific concepts, |
| technologies, and features of the IDE. You can successfully follow a tutorial unit |
| on its own using the provided setup instructions and application snapshots (from |
| Unit 5 onward). However, you'll get the most benefit by working through all units |
| consecutively, from beginning to end. This will also help to illustrate the |
| development process.</p> |
| |
| <p>Unit 3, <a href="setup-dev-environ.html">Setting up the Development Environment</a> |
| introduces you to the NetBeans IDE. In it, you create a Java web project which |
| is the basis for the work you undertake in later tutorial units. In Unit 4, |
| <a href="data-model.html">Designing the Data Model</a>, you primarily work with |
| <a href="http://wb.mysql.com/" target="_blank">MySQL WorkBench</a>, a visual |
| database design tool, to create a data model for the application. Each successive |
| tutorial unit provides you with a <em>project snapshot</em> that corresponds to |
| the project's beginning state for that given unit. This enables you to work through |
| a single tutorial unit outside of the E-commerce Tutorial's larger context. To use |
| these snapshots, download them to your computer and open them in the IDE using the |
| Open Project wizard (Ctrl-Shift-O; ⌘-Shift-O on Mac).</p> |
| |
| <p>You can view a live demo of the application that you build in this tutorial: |
| <a href="http://services.netbeans.org/AffableBean/" target="_blank">NetBeans |
| E-commerce Tutorial Demo Application</a>.</p> |
| |
| <p>The remainder of this unit covers some information relevant to the tutorial, as |
| well as basic concepts necessary for Java EE development. Make sure you understand |
| the concepts outlined below before proceeding with development.</p> |
| |
| <br clear="left"> |
| |
| |
| <br> |
| <h2 id="about">About this Tutorial</h2> |
| |
| <div class="indent"> |
| <h3>Who this Tutorial is for</h3> |
| |
| <p>The content of this tutorial caters to four demographics:</p> |
| |
| <ul> |
| <li>Java developers interested in expanding their skill set to include Java |
| EE technologies</li> |
| |
| <li>Newcomers to the NetBeans IDE wanting to try out its development |
| environment</li> |
| |
| <li>Web developers wanting to see how Java compares to other web-based |
| technologies</li> |
| |
| <li>Students wanting to understand the nuts and bolts a simple e-commerce |
| application, and how its development could apply to a real-world |
| use-case</li> |
| </ul> |
| |
| <p>If you fall into any of these categories, this tutorial will be helpful to |
| you. Depending on your background, you may find that certain tutorial units |
| are more difficult to grasp than others. Understanding how technologies |
| work is key to leveraging the IDE for your purposes. Therefore, if you are |
| really interested in learning the technologies involved, you may find that |
| this tutorial works best as a companion to the |
| <a href="http://download.oracle.com/docs/cd/E17410_01/javaee/6/tutorial/doc/" target="_blank">Java |
| EE Tutorial</a>. For each tutorial unit, make best use of the provided links |
| to relevant areas in the Java EE Tutorial, as well as to other useful resources.</p> |
| |
| |
| <h3>What this Tutorial Covers</h3> |
| |
| <p>The application that you develop in this tutorial involves numerous concepts, |
| technologies, and tooling components:</p> |
| |
| <ul class="toc"> |
| <li><strong>Concepts</strong> |
| |
| <ul style="margin: 5px 0 0 -2em"> |
| <li>Front-end development</li> |
| <li>Web application project structure</li> |
| <li>Data modeling</li> |
| <li>Database connectivity</li> |
| <li>Object-relational mapping</li> |
| <li>Session management</li> |
| <li>Transactional business logic</li> |
| <li>Client and server-side validation</li> |
| <li>Localization</li> |
| <li>Web application security</li> |
| <li>Design patterns, including <a href="http://java.sun.com/blueprints/patterns/MVC.html" target="_blank">Model-View-Controller</a> |
| (MVC) and <a href="http://java.sun.com/blueprints/patterns/SessionFacade.html" target="_blank">Session Facade</a></li> |
| </ul></li> |
| |
| <li><strong>Technologies</strong> |
| |
| <ul style="margin: 5px 0 0 -2em"> |
| <li>HTML, CSS, and JavaScript technologies</li> |
| <li>Servlet and JavaServer Pages (JSP) technologies</li> |
| <li>Enterprise JavaBeans (EJB) technology</li> |
| <li>Java Persistence API (JPA)</li> |
| <li>The JavaServer Pages Standard Tag Library (JSTL)</li> |
| <li>Java Database Connectivity (JDBC)</li> |
| </ul></li> |
| |
| <li><strong>Development Tools</strong> |
| |
| <ul style="margin: 5px 0 0 -2em"> |
| <li>NetBeans IDE</li> |
| <li>GlassFish, a Java EE application server</li> |
| <li>MySQL, a relational database management server (RDBMS)</li> |
| <li>MySQL WorkBench, a visual database design tool</li> |
| </ul> |
| </li> |
| </ul> |
| </div> |
| |
| |
| <br> |
| <h2 id="whatEcommerce">What is an E-commerce Application?</h2> |
| |
| <p>The term <em>e-commerce</em>, as we think of it today, refers to the buying and |
| selling of goods or services over the Internet. For example, you may think of |
| <a href="http://www.amazon.com/" target="_blank">Amazon</a>, which provides online |
| shopping for various product categories, such as books, music, and electronics. |
| This form of e-commerce is known as electronic retailing, or <em>e-tailing</em>, |
| and usually involves the transportation of physical items. It is also referred |
| to as <em>business-to-customer</em>, or B2C. Other well-known forms include:</p> |
| |
| <ul> |
| <li><strong>Consumer-to-consumer (C2C): </strong>Transactions taking place |
| between individuals, usually through a third-party site such as an online |
| auction. A typical example of C2C commerce is <a href="http://www.ebay.com/" target="_blank">eBay</a>.</li> |
| |
| <li><strong>Business-to-business (B2B): </strong>Trade occurring between |
| businesses, e.g., between a retailer and wholesaler, or between a wholesaler |
| and manufacturer.</li> |
| |
| <li><strong>Business-to-government (B2G): </strong>Trade occurring between |
| businesses and government agencies.</li> |
| </ul> |
| |
| <p>This tutorial focuses on business-to-customer (B2C) e-commerce, and applies the |
| typical scenario of a small retail store seeking to create a website enabling |
| customers to shop online. Software that accommodates a B2C scenario generally |
| consists of two components:</p> |
| |
| <ol> |
| <li><strong>Store Front:</strong> The website that is accessed by customers, |
| enabling them to purchase goods over the Internet. Data from the store catalog |
| is typically maintained in a database, and pages requiring this data are |
| generated dynamically.</li> |
| |
| <li><strong>Administration Console:</strong> A password-protected area that is |
| accessed over a secure connection by store staff for purposes of online management. |
| This typically involves CRUD (create read update delete) access to the store |
| catalog, management of discounts, shipping and payment options, and review |
| of customer orders.</li> |
| </ol> |
| |
| |
| <br> |
| <h2 id="whatJava">What is Java?</h2> |
| |
| <p>In the computer software industry, the term "Java" refers to the |
| <em>Java Platform</em> as well as the <em>Java Programming Language</em>.</p> |
| |
| <div class="feedback-box margin-around"> |
| <img src="../../../../images_www/articles/73/javaee/ecommerce/intro/duke.png" |
| class="margin-around" alt="Image of Duke" title="Duke, the Java mascot"> |
| |
| <p>Duke, the Java mascot</p> |
| </div> |
| |
| <div class="indent"> |
| <h3>Java as a Programming Language</h3> |
| |
| <p>The Java language was conceptualized by |
| <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Gosling" target="_blank">James Gosling</a>, |
| who began work on the project in 1991. The language was created with the following |
| 5 design principles<sup><a href="#footnote1" id="1" style="text-decoration:none">[1]</a></sup> |
| in mind:</p> |
| |
| <ol> |
| <li><strong>Simple, Object-Oriented, and Familiar:</strong> Java contains |
| a small, consistent core of fundamental concepts that can be grasped |
| quickly. It was originally modeled after the then popular C++ language, |
| so that programmers could easily migrate to Java. Also, it adheres to |
| an <em>object-oriented</em> paradigm; systems are comprised of |
| encapsulated objects that communicate by passing messages to one another.</li> |
| |
| <li><strong>Robust and Secure:</strong> The language includes compile-time |
| and run-time checking to ensure that errors are identified quickly. It |
| also contains network and file-access security features so that distributed |
| applications are not compromised by intrusion or corruption.</li> |
| |
| <li><strong>Architecture Neutral and Portable:</strong> One of Java's primary |
| advantages is its <em>portability</em>. Applications can be easily |
| transferred from one platform to another with minimum or no modifications. |
| The slogan "Write once, run anywhere" accompanied the Java 1.0 |
| release in 1995, and refers to the cross-platform benefits of the language.</li> |
| |
| <li><strong>High Performance:</strong> Applications run quickly and efficiently |
| due to various low-level features, such as enabling the Java interpreter |
| to run independently from the run-time environment, and applying an |
| automatic garbage collector to free unused memory.</li> |
| |
| <li><strong>Interpreted, Threaded, and Dynamic:</strong> With Java, a developer's |
| source code is compiled into an intermediate, interpreted form known as |
| <em>bytecode</em>. The bytecode instructional set refers to the machine |
| language used by the Java Virtual Machine (JVM). With a suitable interpreter, |
| this language can then be translated into <em>native code</em> for the |
| platform it is run on. Multithreading capabilities are supported primarily |
| by means of the <code>Thread</code> class, enabling numerous tasks to occur |
| simultaneously. The language and run-time system are dynamic in that |
| applications can adapt to environment changes during execution.</li> |
| </ol> |
| |
| <p>If you'd like to learn more about the Java language, see |
| the <a href="http://java.sun.com/docs/books/tutorial/" target="_blank">Java Tutorials</a>.</p> |
| |
| |
| <h3 id="platform">Java as a Platform</h3> |
| |
| <p>The Java Platform signifies a software-based platform that is comprised of two |
| parts:</p> |
| |
| <ul> |
| <li><strong>The Java Virtual Machine (JVM)</strong>: The JVM is an engine that |
| executes instructions generated by the Java compiler. The JVM can be thought |
| of as an instance of the Java Runtime Environment, or JRE, and is embedded |
| in various products, such as web browsers, servers, and operating systems.</li> |
| |
| <li><strong>The Java Application Programming Interface (API)</strong>: |
| Prewritten code, organized into packages of similar topics. For instance, |
| the Applet and AWT packages include classes for creating fonts, menus, |
| and buttons.</li> |
| </ul> |
| |
| <p>The Java Development Kit, or JDK, refers to the Java SE Edition, while other |
| kits are referred to as "SDK", a generic term for "software |
| development kit." For example, the <a href="http://java.sun.com/javaee/sdk/" target="_blank">Java |
| EE SDK</a>.<sup><a href="#footnote2" id="2" style="text-decoration:none">[2]</a></sup></p> |
| |
| <p>You can see a visual representation of the Java platform by viewing the |
| conceptual diagram of component technologies provided in the |
| <a href="http://download.oracle.com/javase/6/docs/index.html" target="_blank">JDK Documentation</a>. |
| As shown below, the diagram is interactive, enabling you click on components |
| to learn more about individual technologies. |
| |
| <br> |
| <img src="../../../../images_www/articles/73/javaee/ecommerce/intro/jdk-diagram.png" |
| class="margin-around" alt="Diagram of JDK 6" |
| title="The Java platform represented by the JDK"></p> |
| |
| <p>As the diagram indicates, the JDK includes the Java Runtime Environment (JRE). |
| You require the JRE to run software, and you require the JDK to develop |
| software. Both can be acquired from |
| <a href="http://www.oracle.com/technetwork/java/javase/downloads/index.html" target="_blank">Java SE Downloads</a>.</p> |
| |
| <p>The Java platform comes in several <em>editions</em>, such as |
| <a href="http://java.sun.com/javase/" target="_blank">Java SE</a> (Standard Edition), |
| <a href="http://java.sun.com/javame/index.jsp" target="_blank">Java ME</a> (Micro Edition), |
| and <a href="http://java.sun.com/javaee/" target="_blank">Java EE</a> (Enterprise Edition).</p> |
| |
| |
| <h3>Java EE</h3> |
| |
| <p>The Java Platform, Enterprise Edition (Java EE) builds upon the Java SE platform |
| and provides a set of technologies for developing and running portable, robust, |
| scalable, reliable and secure server-side applications.</p> |
| |
| <p>EE technologies are loosely divided into two categories:</p> |
| |
| <ul> |
| <li><a href="http://java.sun.com/javaee/technologies/webapps/" target="_blank">Web application technologies</a></li> |
| <li><a href="http://java.sun.com/javaee/technologies/entapps/" target="_blank">Enterprise application technologies</a></li> |
| </ul> |
| |
| <p>Depending on your needs, you may want to use certain technologies from either |
| category. For example, this tutorial makes use of |
| <a href="http://java.sun.com/products/servlet/index.jsp" target="_blank">Servlet</a>, |
| <a href="http://java.sun.com/products/jsp/" target="_blank">JSP/EL</a>, and |
| <a href="http://java.sun.com/products/jsp/jstl/" target="_blank">JSTL</a> "web" |
| technologies, as well as |
| <a href="http://java.sun.com/products/ejb/" target="_blank">EJB</a> and |
| <a href="http://java.sun.com/javaee/technologies/persistence.jsp" target="_blank">JPA</a> |
| "enterprise" technologies.</p> |
| |
| <p>Java EE currently dominates the market, especially in the financial sector. The following |
| diagram is taken from an |
| <!-- <a href="http://www.sun.com/aboutsun/media/analyst/european_fsa.pdf"> --> |
| <a href="http://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&q=cache:2NNYG8LtVFIJ:www.sun.com/aboutsun/media/analyst/european_fsa.pdf+european_fsa.pdf&hl=en&pid=bl&srcid=ADGEESi3vpbc32J7GzXFiqk__DvMp7_3deYe9td-HP3_QEXh77yBABi35uvL1z7ytj6o17io7_YFPnRFmhju5PQgrpgjVxt-2qXQSUh8xGUbeNP0k00dDsiq1Tl0DWJLOEH3SNubhit5&sig=AHIEtbTKL5tks3AlgEt57h4Aku_H55OXag" target="_blank"> |
| independent survey for European markets</a> performed in 2007.</p> |
| |
| <div class="indent"> |
| <img src="../../../../images_www/articles/73/javaee/ecommerce/intro/java-ee-vs-net.png" |
| class="margin-around b-all" alt="Survey Java EE vs .Net" |
| title="Java EE dominates the financial market"> |
| </div> |
| |
| <p class="tips">For a recent, informal comparison of Java EE to .NET, see the blog post |
| <a href="http://www.adam-bien.com/roller/abien/entry/java_ee_or_net_an" target="_blank">Java |
| EE or .NET - An Almost Unbiased Opinion</a> by a well-known member of the Java EE community.</p> |
| |
| |
| <h3>What's the Difference Between...?</h3> |
| |
| <p>There are many abbreviations and acronyms to parse. If you're new to all of this |
| and find the above explanation somewhat confusing, the following resources can |
| help explain what the differences are between some of the commonly used terminology.</p> |
| |
| <ul> |
| <li><a href="http://www.java.com/en/download/faq/jre_jdk.xml" target="_blank">What's the Difference between the JRE and the JDK?</a></li> |
| <li><a href="http://www.java.com/en/download/faq/java_diff.xml" target="_blank">What's the Difference between the JRE and the Java SE platform?</a></li> |
| <li><a href="http://www.oracle.com/technetwork/java/javaee/javaee-faq-jsp-135209.html#diff" target="_blank">What's the Difference between Java EE and J2EE?</a></li> |
| <li><a href="http://java.sun.com/new2java/programming/learn/unravelingjava.html" target="_blank">Unraveling Java Terminology</a></li> |
| </ul> |
| |
| </div> |
| |
| |
| <br> |
| <h2 id="jcp">What is the Java Community Process?</h2> |
| |
| <p>The <a href="http://jcp.org/" target="_blank">Java Community Process</a> (JCP) is a |
| program that manages the development of standard technical specifications for Java |
| technology. The JCP catalogs Java Specification Requests (JSRs), which are formal |
| proposals that document the technologies which are to be added to the Java platform. |
| JSRs are run by an <em>Expert Group</em>, which typically comprises representatives |
| of companies that are stakeholders in the industry. The JCP enables Java technology |
| to grow and adapt according to the needs and trends of the community.</p> |
| |
| <p>The JSRs of technologies used and referred to in this tutorial include the following:</p> |
| |
| <ul> |
| <li><a href="http://jcp.org/en/jsr/summary?id=52" target="_blank">JSR 52: A Standard Tag Library for JavaServer Pages</a></li> |
| <li><a href="http://jcp.org/en/jsr/summary?id=245" target="_blank">JSR 245: JavaServer Pages 2.1</a></li> |
| <li><a href="http://jcp.org/en/jsr/summary?id=315" target="_blank">JSR 315: Java Servlet 3.0</a></li> |
| <li><a href="http://jcp.org/en/jsr/summary?id=316" target="_blank">JSR 316: Java Platform, Enterprise Edition 6</a></li> |
| <li><a href="http://jcp.org/en/jsr/summary?id=317" target="_blank">JSR 317: Java Persistence 2.0</a></li> |
| <li><a href="http://jcp.org/en/jsr/summary?id=318" target="_blank">JSR 318: Enterprise JavaBeans 3.1</a></li> |
| </ul> |
| |
| <p>You can use the <a href="http://jcp.org/" target="_blank">JCP website</a> to search for individual JSRs. |
| You can also view all current EE technologies (Java EE 6) at:</p> |
| |
| <ul> |
| <li><a href="http://java.sun.com/javaee/technologies/index.jsp" target="_blank">http://java.sun.com/javaee/technologies/index.jsp</a></li> |
| </ul> |
| |
| <p>Java EE 5 technologies are listed at:</p> |
| |
| <ul> |
| <li><a href="http://java.sun.com/javaee/technologies/javaee5.jsp" target="_blank">http://java.sun.com/javaee/technologies/javaee5.jsp</a></li> |
| </ul> |
| |
| <p>A JSR's final release provides a <em>reference implementation</em>, which is a free |
| implementation of the technology. In this tutorial, you utilize these implementations |
| to develop the sample e-commerce application. For example, the GlassFish v3 application |
| server, which is included in the standard Java download bundle for |
| <a href="https://netbeans.org/downloads/6.8/index.html" target="_blank">NetBeans |
| 6.8</a>, is the reference implementation of the Java EE 6 platform specification |
| (<a href="http://jcp.org/en/jsr/summary?id=316" target="_blank">JSR 316</a>). As a |
| reference implementation for the Java EE platform, it includes reference implementations |
| for the technologies included in the platform, such as Servlet, EJB and JPA technologies.</p> |
| |
| |
| <br> |
| <h2 id="ide">Why use an IDE?</h2> |
| |
| <p>Firstly, the term <em>IDE</em> stands for <em>integrated development environment</em>. |
| The purpose of an IDE has traditionally been to maximize a developer's productivity |
| by providing tools and support such as:</p> |
| |
| <ul class="toc"> |
| <li>a source code editor</li> |
| <li>a compiler and build automation tools</li> |
| <li>a window system for viewing projects and project artifacts</li> |
| <li>integration with other commonly-used services</li> |
| <li>debugging support</li> |
| <li>profiling support</li> |
| </ul> |
| |
| <p>Consider what would be necessary if you wanted to create a Java-based web application |
| manually. After installing the <a href="http://www.oracle.com/technetwork/java/javase/downloads/index.html" target="_blank">Java |
| Development Kit (JDK)</a>, you would need to set up your development environment by |
| performing the following steps.<sup><a href="#footnote3" id="3" style="text-decoration:none">[3]</a></sup></p> |
| |
| <ol> |
| <li>Set your <code>PATH</code> environment variable to point to the JDK installation.</li> |
| |
| <li>Download and configure a server that implements the technologies you plan to use.</li> |
| |
| <li>Create a development directory where you plan to create and work on the web application(s). |
| Furthermore, you are responsible for setting up the application directory structure so |
| that it can be understood by the server. (For example, see |
| <a href="http://java.sun.com/blueprints/code/projectconventions.html#99632" target="_blank">Java |
| BluePrints: Strategy for Web Applications</a> for a recommended structure.)</li> |
| |
| <li>Set your <code>CLASSPATH</code> environment variable to include the development |
| directory, as well as any required JAR files.</li> |
| |
| <li>Establish a deployment method, i.e., a way to copy resources from your development |
| directory to the server's deployment area.</li> |
| |
| <li>Bookmark or install relevant API documentation.</li> |
| </ol> |
| |
| <p>For educative purposes, it is worthwhile to create and run a Java web project manually |
| so that you are aware the necessary steps involved. But eventually, you'll want to |
| consider using tools that reduce or eliminate the need to perform tedious or repetitious |
| tasks, thereby enabling you to focus on developing code that solves specific business |
| needs. An IDE streamlines the process outlined above. As demonstrated in Unit 3, |
| <a href="setup-dev-environ.html">Setting up the Development Environment</a>, you'll |
| install NetBeans IDE with the GlassFish application server, and be able to set up |
| a web application project with a conventional directory structure using a simple |
| 3-step wizard. Furthermore, the IDE provides provides built-in API documentation which |
| you can either call up as you code in the editor, or maintain open in an external |
| window.</p> |
| |
| <p>An IDE also typically handles project compilation and deployment in a way that is |
| transparent to you as a developer. For example, the web project that you create in |
| NetBeans includes an Ant build script that is used to compile, clean, package and |
| deploy the project. This means that you can run your project from the IDE, and it |
| will automatically be compiled and deployed, then open in your default browser. |
| Taking this a step further, many IDEs support a Deploy on on Save feature. In other |
| words, whenever you save changes to your project, the deployed version on your |
| server is automatically updated. You can simply switch to the browser and refresh |
| the page to view changes.</p> |
| |
| <p>IDEs also provide templates for various file types, and often enable you to add them |
| to your project by suggesting common locations and including default configuration |
| information where necessary.</p> |
| |
| <p>Aside from the "basic support" described above, IDEs typically provide |
| interfaces to external tools and services (e.g., application and database servers, |
| web services, debugging and profiling facilities, and collaboration tools) which |
| are indispensable to your work if Java development is your profession.</p> |
| |
| <p>Finally, IDEs usually provide enhanced editor support. The editor is where you likely |
| spend most of your time working, and IDE editors typically include syntax highlighting, |
| refactoring capabilites, keyboard shortcuts, code completion, hints and error messages, |
| all aiming to help you work more efficiently and intelligently.</p> |
| |
| |
| <br> |
| <h2 id="netBeans">Why use NetBeans?</h2> |
| |
| <p>The NetBeans IDE is a free, open-source integrated development environment written |
| entirely in Java. It offers a range of tools for create professional desktop, |
| enterprise, web, and mobile applications with the Java language, C/C++, |
| and even scripting languages such as PHP, JavaScript, Groovy, and Ruby.</p> |
| |
| <p>People are saying great things about NetBeans. For a list of testimonials, see |
| <a href="../../../../features/ide/testimonials.html" target="_blank">NetBeans IDE |
| Testimonials</a>. Many developers are migrating their applications to NetBeans |
| from other IDEs. For reasons why, read <a href="../../../../switch/realstories.html" target="_blank">Real |
| Stories From People Switching to NetBeans IDE</a>.</p> |
| |
| <p>The IDE provides many <a href="../../../../features/web/index.html" target="_blank">features |
| for web development</a>, and several advantages over other IDEs. Here are several |
| noteworthy points:</p> |
| |
| <ul> |
| <li><strong>Works Out of the Box:</strong> Simply download, install, and run the |
| IDE. With its small download size, installation is a breeze. The IDE runs on |
| many platforms including Windows, Linux, Mac OS X and Solaris. All IDE tools |
| and features are fully integrated - no need to hunt for plug-ins - and they |
| work together when you launch the IDE.</li> |
| |
| <li><strong>Free and Open Source:</strong> When you use the NetBeans IDE, you join |
| a vibrant, <a href="../../../../community/index.html" target="_blank">open source |
| community</a> with thousands of users ready to help and contribute. There are |
| discussions on the <a href="../../../../community/lists/index.html" target="_blank">NetBeans |
| project mailing lists</a>, blogs on <a href="http://www.planetnetbeans.org/" target="_blank">Planet |
| NetBeans</a>, and helpful FAQs and tutorials on the <a href="http://wiki.netbeans.org/" target="_blank">community |
| wiki</a>.</li> |
| |
| <li><strong>Profiling and Debugging Tools:</strong> With NetBeans IDE |
| <a href="../../../../features/java/profiler.html">profiler</a>, you get real time |
| insight into memory usage and potential performance bottlenecks. Furthermore, you can |
| instrument specific parts of code to avoid performance degradation during profiling. |
| The <a href="http://profiler.netbeans.org/docs/help/6.0/heapwalker.html" target="_blank">HeapWalker</a> |
| tool helps you evaluate Java heap contents and find memory leaks.</li> |
| |
| <li><strong>Customizable Projects:</strong> Through the NetBeans IDE build process, which |
| relies on industry standards such as <a href="http://ant.apache.org/" target="_blank">Apache |
| Ant</a>, <a href="http://www.gnu.org/software/make/" target="_blank">make</a>, |
| <a href="http://maven.apache.org/" target="_blank">Maven</a>, and |
| <a href="http://rake.rubyforge.org/" target="_blank">rake</a> - rather than a |
| proprietary build process - you can easily customize projects and add functionality. |
| You can build, run, and deploy projects to servers outside of the IDE.</li> |
| |
| <li><strong>Collaboration Tools:</strong> The IDE provides built-in support for version |
| control systems such as CVS, Subversion, and Mercurial.</li> |
| |
| <li><strong>Extensive Documentation:</strong> There's a wealth of tips and instructions |
| contained in the IDE's built-in help set. Simply press F1 (fn-F1 on Mac) on a component |
| in the IDE to invoke the help set. Also, the IDE's <a href="../../../index.html" target="_blank">official |
| knowledge base</a> provides hundreds of online tutorials, articles and |
| <a href="../../../../community/media.html" target="_blank">screencasts</a> that are |
| continuously being updated.</li> |
| </ul> |
| |
| <p>For a more extensive list of reasons why you should consider choosing NetBeans, see |
| <a href="../../../../switch/why.html" target="_blank">NetBeans IDE Connects Developers</a>.</p> |
| |
| |
| <div class="feedback-box"> |
| <a href="/about/contact_form.html?to=3&subject=Feedback: NetBeans E-commerce Tutorial - Introduction">Send |
| Us Your Feedback</a></div> |
| |
| <br style="clear:both;"> |
| |
| |
| <h2 id="seeAlso">See Also</h2> |
| |
| <div class="indent"> |
| <h3>Online Resources</h3> |
| |
| <ul> |
| <li><a href="http://java.sun.com/docs/books/tutorial/" target="_blank">The Java Tutorials</a></li> |
| <li><a href="http://www.oracle.com/technetwork/java/javaee/javaee-faq-jsp-135209.html" target="_blank">Java EE FAQ</a></li> |
| <li><a href="http://java.sun.com/javaee/reference/apis/" target="_blank">Java EE APIs & Docs</a></li> |
| <li><a href="http://java.sun.com/new2java/programming/learn/unravelingjava.html" target="_blank">Unraveling Java Terminology</a></li> |
| <li><a href="http://www.java.com/en/javahistory/index.jsp" target="_blank">The History of Java Technology</a></li> |
| <li><a href="http://java.sun.com/new2java/gettingstarted.jsp" target="_blank">New to Java Programming Center</a></li> |
| </ul> |
| |
| <h3>Books</h3> |
| |
| <ul> |
| <li><a href="http://www.apress.com/book/view/1590598954" target="_blank">Pro NetBeans |
| IDE 6 Rich Client Platform Edition</a></li> |
| |
| <li><a href="http://www.informit.com/store/product.aspx?isbn=0130092290" target="_blank">Core |
| Servlets and JavaServer Pages, Volume 1: Core Technologies, 2nd Edition</a></li> |
| |
| <li><a href="http://www.informit.com/store/product.aspx?isbn=0131482602" target="_blank">Core |
| Servlets and JavaServer Pages, Volume 2: Advanced Technologies, 2nd Edition</a></li> |
| |
| <li><a href="http://java.sun.com/docs/books/faq/" target="_blank">The Java FAQ</a></li> |
| </ul> |
| </div> |
| |
| |
| <br> |
| <h2>References</h2> |
| |
| <ol> |
| <li id="footnote1"><a href="#1" style="text-decoration:none">^</a> The white paper, |
| <a href="http://java.sun.com/docs/white/langenv/Intro.doc2.html" target="_blank">The Java |
| Language Environment</a>, outlines the 5 design principles.</li> |
| |
| <li id="footnote2"><a href="#2" style="text-decoration:none">^</a> Current version names and |
| numbers are defined in |
| <a href="http://download.oracle.com/javase/6/webnotes/version-6.html" target="_blank">Java SE |
| 6, Platform Name and Version Numbers</a>.</li> |
| |
| <li id="footnote3"><a href="#3" style="text-decoration:none">^</a> These steps are loosely |
| based on those outlined in Chapter 2: Server Setup and Configuration, from |
| <a href="http://pdf.coreservlets.com/" target="_blank">Core Servlets and JavaServer Pages</a>, |
| by Marty Hall and Larry Brown. This book is freely available in PDF format from: |
| <a href="http://pdf.coreservlets.com/" target="_blank">http://pdf.coreservlets.com/</a></li> |
| </ol> |
| |
| </body> |
| </html> |
