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What are your favourite IDE features ?

 
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My favourite IntelliJ features are:

1.The search class/file/method pop-up dialogs.They are so handy that I often don't refer back to the package tree but search directly for code
2.Integration with all version control systems.
3.Local history , invaluable when something goes wrong with version control (let's face it , it happens)
4.Floating transparent windows ! See the project tree and the code ! I find it really usefull when writing ant scripts
5.VI plugin

I don't know enough about Eclipse , is there anything that it can do that IntelliJ cannot ? I would like to learn more about the tool

p
 
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Firefox Browser Spring Java
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1. Debugging
2. Immediate compilation/warnings
3. Refactoring - Change a Class name and IDE automatically changes it in all classes.
4. Finding the matching bracket

5. integration with CVS
6. Plugins
 
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My Top 3 features
1)Refactoring (Can't think of working with out this now.)
2)Code optimization(Analyze option)
3)IntelliJ+ clover plugin
[ April 11, 2006: Message edited by: Manoj Kumkumath ]
 
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Eclipse IDE VI Editor Ubuntu
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is there anything that it can do that IntelliJ cannot ?


You can play Minesweeper under Eclipse
 
author
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Originally posted by Paul Slattery:

I don't know enough about Eclipse , is there anything that it can do that IntelliJ cannot ? I would like to learn more about the tool



The main difference is that it isn't a Java IDE, it's an IDE platform. There are plugins for a whole lot of languages. Currently, at home I use it mainly as a LaTeX editor, using Texlipse, for example.
 
Greenhorn
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Indentation: I like
Brackets are automatically shown with a different style, for example.

Method borders can be separated with a line, which I like ...
 
Ranch Hand
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Two things: low-cost, and the ability to use plugins.

Low cost: Believe it or not, many new developers aren't rich. They're still in school, making money at odd-jobs. If they're lucky, those odd-jobs involve computers, but usually not. They spend thier free time learning to program, not to get a job, but because they love thier programming hobby. But, they aren't going to spend a dime on that hobby if they don't have to. You see, even if they dont' know the first thing about an if-then-else loop, they do understand one of the first tenent of the internet: "All information should be free". So, they will download and use a free IDE, if they use anything at all. They will not spend $500.00 for an IDE, not just because they dont' have the money, but also on principle.

When they finally do get a job, they'll take thier editor of choice with them. That's why Eclipse has such market penetration. From a management perspective, $500.00 a head isn't much to pay for any tool to increase productivity. So, they'll usually leave the IDE decision to thier Developers. And, if the IDE isn't too expensive, the developers will get what they want. Why? Because it makes good business sense to provide developers with familiar tools. In short, if IDEA really wants strong market penetration, they're gonna have to make a version of thier IDE free.

Ability to use Plugins: Once a developer starts developing, they'll develop an affinity for certain IDE's programming languages, and techniques. When a developer faces a change in IDE, they will guage the new IDE in its familiarity to thier current IDE. If thier new IDE can be made to work similarly to their old one, and then can work better than the old one, the developer will be happy. If the IDE is completely different, the developer will have to learn the new IDE, lose productivity, and the developer will not be happy. Plugins, like those found in Eclipse, help Eclipse overcome this problem.

Want to edit in VI, but be able to use snazzy menus for things like compiling and refactoring? Eclipse can do it! Want to program macros in Eclipse, and use your favorite Emacs hot-key combinations? Eclipse can do it! Want to switch from Java Swing applications to J2EE using Struts? Eclipse can do that! If IDEA can, they're a competitor. If they can't, perhaps they should consider marketing an IDEA plugin for Eclipse, like many other IDE vendors have done.
 
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Hibernate Spring Java
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1. Debugging
2. Integration with unit testing
3. Built-in style enforcement/repair (for those times when your coworkers change the style in a class file)
4. Pop-up class/file/method completion dialogues and tooltips for parameters.
5. Did I mention debugging?

My primary thing that I love is just the visual feedback when I do something wrong. It catches my missing semicolons before I spend hours diving through to look for the errors... though if it could just now keep track of when I misuse parameters/variables...
 
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IntelliJ:
1. The light bulb with good advice )
2. Good error detection
3. Fast file browsing (ctrl+alt+n)
4. Very good Javascript and xml editor
5. Refactoring

Netbeans:
1. Tight integration with bundled Tomcat and Sun App Server (just install, no configuration)
2. UI Builder

Eclipse:
1. A lot of plugins

The winner: IntelliJ
 
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I started to like the following:

- Live Templates
- Refactoring
- JDK 1.5 support
- much more

but I am still looking for:
- AspectJ support
- strange crashes during Refactoring (sporatic)
- cannot open another project with a double-click (Windows) when a project is already open (it just brings a IDEA frame to the front)

-Andy
 
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- low (zero) cost
- debugger for the high-level languages it supports
- plug-ins
- cool editor features like color coding (that prints color too), smart indenting, etc.
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