25/09/2016 Developing General Java Applications - NetBeans IDE Tutorial

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Developing General Java Applications

The following short tutorial takes you through some of the basic steps of developing a Java SE application in NetBeans IDE. This tutorial
assumes you already have some familiarity with developing Java applications. Along the way, you will see some of the IDE features that
simplify application development.
Training
You will create an application that converts several words into a single word that contains one letter from each of the other words. The Java Programming
resulting word is called an acrostic. Language

This tutorial takes approximately 30 minutes to complete. If you would like to do a quicker "Hello World" tutorial, see the NetBeans IDE Java
Quick Start Tutorial. Support
Contents
Oracle Development Tools
Project Setup Support Offering for
NetBeans IDE
Creating and Editing Java Source Code
Compiling and Running the Application
Testing and Debugging the Application Documentation
Building, Running, and Distributing the Application General Java Development
Other Common Tasks External Tools and
Services
Next Steps
Java GUI Applications
To complete this tutorial, you need the software and resources listed in the following table. Java EE & Java Web
Development
Software or Resource Version Required Web Services Applications

NetBeans IDE 7.4 or 8.0 NetBeans Platform (RCP)

and Module Development
Java Development Kit (JDK) 6, 7, or 8 PHP and HTML5
Applications
Project Setup C/C++ Applications
Mobile Applications
The application you create will contain two projects:

A Java Class Library project in which you will create a utility class. Sample Applications
Demos and Screencasts
A Java Application project with a main class that implements a method from the library project's utility class.

After you create the projects, you will add the library project to the classpath of the application project. Then you will code the application. The
library project will contain a utility class with an acrosticmethod. The acrosticmethod takes an array of words as a parameter and
More
then generates an acrostic based on those words. The MyApp project will contain a main class that calls the acrosticmethod and FAQs

passes the words that are entered as arguments when the application is run. Contribute Documentation!
Docs for Earlier Releases
Note: Strictly speaking, two projects are not needed for such a simple application. This tutorial uses two projects to demonstrate
features that you might need for a more complex application.

Creating a Java Class Library Project

1. Choose File > New Project (Ctrl-Shift-N). Under Categories, select Java. Under Projects, select Java Class Library. Click Next.

2. Under Project Name, type MyLib. Change the Project Location to any directory on your computer. From now on, this tutorial
refers to this directory as NetBeansProjects.
Note: The path specified above should appear as follows in the Project Folder field of the wizard:
/NetBeansProjects/MyLib/

3. (Optional) Select the Use Dedicated Folder for Storing Libraries checkbox and specify the location for the libraries folder. See
Sharing a Library with Other Users in Developing Applications with NetBeans IDE for more information on this option.

4. Click Finish. The MyLib project opens in both the Projects window and the Files window.

Creating a Java Application Project

1. Choose File > New Project. Under Categories, select Java. Under Projects, select Java Application. Click Next.

2. Under Project Name, type MyApp. Make sure the Project Location is set to NetBeansProjects.

3. (Optional) Check the Use Dedicated Folder for Storing Libraries checkbox.

4. Enter acrostic.Mainas the main class.

5. Ensure that the Create Main Class checkbox is checked.

6. Click Finish. The MyApp project is displayed in the Project window and Main.javaopens in the Source Editor.

Configuring the Compilation Classpath

Since MyApp is going to depend on a class in MyLib, you have to add MyLib to the classpath of MyApp. Doing so also ensures that
classes in the MyApp project can refer to classes in the MyLib project without causing compilation errors. In addition, this enables you to
use code completion in the MyApp project to fill in code based on the MyLib project. In the IDE, the classpath is visually represented by
the Libraries node.

To add the library's utility classes to the project classpath:

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1. In the Projects window, right-click the Libraries node for the MyApp project and choose Add Project as shown in the image below.

2. Browse to NetBeansProjects/and select the MyLibproject folder. The Project JAR Files pane shows the JAR files that
can be added to the project. Notice that a JAR file for MyLib is listed even though you have not actually built the JAR file yet. This
JAR file will get built when you build and run the MyApp project.

3. Click Add Project JAR Files.

4. Expand the Libraries node. The MyLib project's JAR file is added to the MyApp project's classpath.

Creating and Editing Java Source Code

Now you need to create a Java package and add the method that you will use to construct the acrostic. After that you need to implement the
acrosticmethod in the Mainclass.

Creating a Java Package and Class File

1. Right-click the MyLib project node and choose New > Java Class. Type LibClassas the name for the new class, type
org.me.mylibin the Package field, and click Finish. LibClass.javaopens in the Source Editor.

2. In LibClass.java, place the cursor on the line after the class declaration (public class LibClass {.

3. Type or paste in the following method code:

public static String acrostic(String[] args) {

StringBuffer b = new StringBuffer();
for (int i = 0; i < args.length; i++) {
if (args[i].length() > i) {
b.append(args[i].charAt(i));
} else {
b.append('?');
}
}
return b.toString();
}

4. If the code that you pasted in is not formatted correctly, press Alt-Shift-F to reformat the entire file.

5. Press Ctrl-S to save the file.

Editing a Java File

Now you will add some code to Main.java. In doing so, you will see the Source Editor's code completion and code template
(abbreviation) features.

1. Select the Main.javatab in the Source Editor. If it isn't already open, expand MyApp > Source Packages > acrostic in the
Projects window and double-click Main.java.

2. Delete the // TODO code application logic herecomment in the mainmethod.

3. In place of the comment type the following:

String result = Li

Leave the cursor immediately after Li. In the next step you will use code completion to turn Liinto LibClass.

4. Press Ctrl-Space to open the code completion box.

A short list of possible ways to complete the word appears. However, the class that you want, LibClassmight not be there.

5. Press Ctrl-Space again to display a longer list of possible matches.

LibClassshould be in this list.

6. Select LibClassand press Enter. The IDE fills in the rest of the class name and also automatically creates an import
statement for the class.
Note: The IDE also opens a box above the code completion box that displays Javadoc information for the selected class or
package. Since there is no Javadoc information for this package, the box displays a "Cannot find Javadoc" message.

7. In the main method, type a period (.) after LibClass. The code completion box opens again.

8. Select the acrostic(String[]args)method and press Enter. The IDE fills in the acrosticmethod and the highlights
the argsparameter.

9. Press Enter to accept argsas the parameter.

10. Type a semicolon (;).

The final line should look like the following line.

String result = LibClass.acrostic(args);

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11. Press Enter to start a new line. Then type soutand press Tab. The soutabbreviation expands to
System.out.println(""); with the cursor positioned between the quotation marks. Type Result =inside the
quotation marks and + resultafter the end quotation mark.
The final line should look like the following line.

System.out.println("Result = " + result);

12. Press Ctrl-S to save the file.

Note: soutis one of many code templates that are available in the Source Editor. To find and edit the list of code templates,
choose Tools > Options > Editor > Code Template.

Compiling and Running the Application

Now you need to set the main class and execution arguments so that you can run the project.

Note: By default, the projects have been created with the Compile on Save feature enabled, so you do not need to compile your code
first in order to run the application in the IDE. For more information, see Compiling a Single Java File in Developing Applications with
NetBeans IDE.

Setting the Main Class and Execution Arguments

The output of this program is based on arguments that you provide when you run the program. As arguments, you will provide five
words, from which the acrostic "Hello" will be generated. The acrostic is assembled from the first letter of the first word, the second letter
of the second word, the third letter of the third word, and so on.

To add the arguments for the IDE to use when running the application:

1. Right-click the MyApp project node, choose Properties, and select the Run node in the dialog's left pane.
The main class should already be set to acrostic.Main.

2. Type However we all feel zealous in the Arguments field and click OK.

Running the Application

Now that you have created the application and provided runtime arguments for the application, you can test run the application in the
IDE.

To run the application in the IDE:

1. Right-click the MyApp project node and choose Clean and Build.

2. Choose Run > Run Project (F6).

In the Output window, you should see the output from the program, Result = Hello (the acrostic of the phrase that was
passed to the program as an argument).

Testing and Debugging the Application

Now you will create and run a test for the project using JUnit and then run the application in the IDE's debugger to check for errors. In the
JUnit test, you will test the LibClass by passing a phrase to the acrosticmethod and using an assertion to indicate what you think the
result should be.

Creating JUnit Tests

1. Right-click the LibClass.javanode in the Projects window and choose Tools >Create/Update Tests (Ctrl-Shift-U).

2. In the Create Tests dialog box, click OK to run the command with the default options.
Note: If this is the first time you have created JUnit tests in the IDE, you will be prompted with the Select JUnit Version
dialog box. Press Enter to select JUnit 4.x and continue to the Create Tests dialog box.

The IDE creates the org.me.mylibpackage and the LibClassTest.javafile in a separate testfolder. You can find this
file by expanding the Test Packages node and the org.me.mylibsubnode.

3. In LibClassTest.java, delete the body of the public void testAcrostic()method.

4. In place of the deleted lines, type or paste in the following:

System.err.println("Running testAcrostic...");
String result = LibClass.acrostic(new String[]
{"fnord", "polly", "tropism"});
assertEquals("Correct value", "foo", result);

5. Save the file by pressing Ctrl-S.

Running JUnit Tests

1. Select the MyLib project node and choose Run > Test Project (MyLib) or press Alt-F6. The MyLib (test)tab opens in the
Output window. The JUnit test cases are compiled and run. The JUnit test result shows that the test passes.

2. You can also run a single test file rather than testing the entire project. Select the LibClass.javatab in the Source Editor and
choose Run > Test File.

The JUnit API documentation is available from the IDE. Choose Help > Javadoc References > JUnit API.

Note: If this is the first time you access Javadoc in the IDE, you need to first choose Help > Javadoc References > More Javadoc.
Click Cancel in the Javadoc References dialog box. Then choose Help > Javadoc References > JUnit API.

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You can learn more about JUnit by visiting http://www.junit.org

Debugging the Application

In this section, you will use the debugger to step through the application and watch the values of variables change as the acrostic is
assembled.

To run the application in the debugger:

1. In the LibClass.javafile, go to the acrosticmethod and place the insertion point anywhere inside
b.append(args[i].charAt(i));. Then press Ctrl-F8 to set a breakpoint.

2. Select the MyApp project node and choose Debug > Debug Project (Ctrl-F5). The IDE opens the Debugger windows and runs the
project in the debugger until the breakpoint is reached.

3. Select the Local Variables window in the bottom of the IDE and expand the argsnode. The array of strings contains the phrase
you entered as the command arguments.

4. Press F7 (or choose Debug > Step Into) to step through the program and watch the bvariable change as the acrostic is
constructed.
When the program reaches the end, the debugger windows close.

For more information, see Writing JUnit Tests in NetBeans IDE.

Building, Running, and Distributing the Application

Once you are satisfied that your application works properly, you can prepare the application for deployment outside of the IDE. In this section
you will build the application's JAR file and then run the JAR file from the command line.

Building the Application

The main build command in the IDE is the Clean and Build command. The Clean and Build command deletes previously compiled
classes and other build artifacts and then rebuilds the entire project from scratch.

Notes: There is also a Build command, which does not delete old build artifacts, but this command is disabled by default. See
About Building Java Projects in Developing Applications with NetBeans IDE for more information.

To build the application:

Choose Run > Clean and Build Project (Shift-F11).

Output from the Ant build script appears in the Output window. If the Output window does not appear, you can open it manually by
choosing Window > Output > Output.

When you clean and build your project, the following things occur:

Output folders that have been generated by previous build actions are deleted ("cleaned"). (In most cases, these are the build
and distfolders.)

buildand distfolders are added to your project folder (hereafter referred to as the PROJECT_HOME folder). You can view
these folders in the Files window.

All of the sources are compiled into .classfiles, which are placed into the PROJECT_HOME/buildfolder.

A JAR file containing your project is created inside the PROJECT_HOME/distfolder.

If you have specified any libraries for the project (in addition to the JDK), a libfolder is created in the distfolder. The libraries
are copied into dist/lib.

The manifest file in the JAR is updated to include entries that designate the main class and any libraries that are on the project's
classpath.

Note: You can view the contents of the manifest in the IDE's Files window. After you have built your project, switch to the Files
window and navigate to dist/MyApp.jar. Expand the node for the JAR file, expand the META-INFfolder, and double-click
MANIFEST.MFto display the manifest in the Source Editor.

Main-Class: acrostic.Main
Class-Path: lib/MyLib.jar

(To find more about manifest files, you can read this chapter from the Java Tutorial.)

Running the Application Outside of the IDE

To run the application outside of the IDE:

1. On your system, open up a command prompt or terminal window.

2. In the command prompt, change directories to the MyApp/distdirectory.

3. At the command line, type the following statement:

java -jar MyApp.jar However we all feel zealous

The application then executes and returns the following output as shown in the image below:

Result = Hello

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Distributing the Application to Other Users

Now that you have verified that the application works outside of the IDE, you are ready to distribute the application.

To distribute the application:

1. On your system, create a zip file that contains the application JAR file (MyApp.jar) and the accompanying libfolder that
contains MyLib.jar.

2. Send the file to the people who will use the application. Instruct them to unpack the zip file, making sure that the MyApp.jarfile
and the libfolder are in the same folder.

3. Instruct the users to follow the steps in the Running the Application Outside of the IDE section above.

Other Common Tasks

You have now completed the main part of the tutorial, but there are still some basic tasks that have not been covered. This section includes
a few of those tasks.

Making the Javadoc Available in the IDE

To view the JavaSE API documentation in the NetBeans IDE, use the Source > Show Documentation command or choose Window >
IDE Tools > Javadoc Documentation from the main menu to view API documentation in a separate window.

However, for some third-party libraries, API documentation is not available. In these cases, the Javadoc resources must be manually
associated with the IDE.

To make the Javadoc API documentation available for the Show Javadoc command:

1. Download the Javadoc API documentation source (see the FaqJavaDoc page for additional details).

2. Choose Tools > Java Platforms.

3. Click the Javadoc tab.

4. Click the Add ZIP/Folder button and navigate to the zip file or the folder that contains the Javadoc API documentation on your
system. Select the zip file or the folder and click the Add ZIP/Folder button.

5. Click Close.

Generating Javadoc for a Project

You can generate compiled Javadoc documentation for your project based on Javadoc comments that you have added to your classes.

To generate Javadoc documentation for a project:

1. Select the MyLib project.

2. Choose Run > Generate Javadoc for "MyLib" from the IDE's main menu.
The generated Javadoc is added to the distfolder of the project. In addition, the IDE opens a web browser that displays the
Javadoc.

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Next Steps
For more information about using NetBeans IDE to develop Java SE applications, see the following resources:

Packaging and Deploying Desktop Java Applications

Annotation Processors Support in the NetBeans IDE

Debugging Multithreaded Applications

General Java Development Learning Trail

Java and JavaFX GUI Learning Trail

NetBeans IDE Docs and Support page

Creating Java Projects in Developing Applications with NetBeans IDE

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