Re: Java IDE & graphic library

[Thomas Pelaia II <pelaiata@sns.gov>]

Eric,

At SNS we allow developers to use whatever IDE or editor they like.  Currently these include: JEdit, Emacs, XCode, Eclipse and Netbeans

What is more important is a good development framework.  We use XAL which includes an interface to EPICS via JCA, an application framework, the Bricks gui builder, online modeling for accelerator physics and other supporting tools including plotting.

We have developed over three dozen application with the application framework.  It provides a rapid development environment for creating document based applications with a common look and feel.  It comes complete with customizable menus and behaviors that simply work without having to do anything but participate in the framework.

The Bricks application is an XAL application that allows developers to develop pure Java Swing GUIs graphically.  Unlike most other GUI builders (including the most popular commercial ones), it supports a true Model-View-Controller design pattern.  The GUI definition is completely stored in an XML file so you simply write the Controller and Model code which means you can focus on what you really want.  Also, it is ideal for use not only with Java but also Jython and other such Java compatible scripting languages since you don't have to compile anything.

Some background on XAL is available at:  http://www.sns.gov/APGroup/appProg/xal/xal.htm

XAL is an open source project available via SVN on source forge:  http://sourceforge.net/projects/xaldev

-tom

On Feb 22, 2007, at 11:44 AM, Lecorche Eric wrote:

Hi everybody,

I suppose it is quite a recurrent question but as we are starting our project, we wonder about the community feeling concerning the Java IDE to be adopted, considering the fact that Java is quite a new environment for us.

So, what Java IDE do you suggest to be preconised for a new project ? Our preferences would make us look further both at Eclipse and NetBeans (also someone in the lab uses Jbuilder) ; among the Epics users, is there any consensus for one of these ? Are there any ways later to move from one IDE to an other one or does this choice will impact the whole life of the project ?

The same type of question also apply for the graphic library to use (Teechart, Jchart, Jfreechart ... other ?). Is it possible to standardize one or does it depend on the GUI to be created ?

Eric Lecorche

<lecorche.vcf>