NetBeans
NetBeans is one of the most popular development IDE’s. With a great acceptance of Java developers, NetBeans also has several expansion modules, like the well-known Eclipse plug-ins.
NetBeans idea was created by two Prague students in Czech Republic. They had started the development of Xelfi, an IDE with similar to Delphi IDE’s, but completely developed in Java. NetBeans name came from the integration the tool should have with the modern JavaBeans components.
Sun connection with NetBeans started in 1999, when the company gave up of its Java Workshop IDE and started to look for new ideas. NetBeans was purchased and had its name changed to Forté for some months. In 2000, Sun announced NetBeans would be an open source platform.
NetBeans has a traditional developer interface, with menus, toolbars and other components. It also has editors for visual applications or Web / J2EE, with XML / DTD’s / Schemas support. It’s always good to remember that NetBeans is a multiplatform IDE, because it was developed in Java.