There is a hot discussion in my local Java User Group - JUG (by 'local' what I mean is Indonesia) about two open source Java IDEs: Eclipse and Netbeans. The discussion becomes a debates with each party blindly defense their favorites IDE. After programming language, now IDE becomes religions to?
One party said, the real man using Eclipse. Well, not all programmers are men. By saying that, they also said that ladies... please use Netbeans.
Another party said that Eclipse is too heavy, so many 'hidden' features till confusing their user, which I agree with that
They only debating Eclipse and Netbeans because these are the two (probably) most popular IDEs in Java community world-wide.
Where I stand?
Well, honestly I never use Eclipse and/or Netbeans in my Java projects. I already install both IDEs, do some test here and there, feeling them, try to get any chemistry... I got (almost) nothing. So as quick I install, that's also apply on how quick I uninstall them.
What IDE For Me?
My favorites IDE is Borland JBuilder. This is the IDE that I'm familiar to work with, and with this IDE, I completed several projects included my final year project in Bina Nusantara University (2002). Maybe the familiarity derived from my experience working with Borland Delphi before. I remember, during my university's year, Delphi is my main programming tools (language), and with Delphi also I finished a project in Bank Universal.
But, Borland JBuilder is not free. Yes!
In Indonesia, maybe we have GPL (Glodok Public License - means pirated software), but that's wrong.
That's why now I'm using Oracle JDeveloper as my Java IDE. It's not opensource like Eclipse and Netbeans, but it's freeware, it's legal (In fact, earlier version of JDeveloper is derived from JBuilder, that's why maybe I feel the chemistry).
So, stop talk about IDE, and start code. I'm a JDeveloper guy, I'm different, and that's fine!
Update: Maybe I should not said local JUG for JUG Indonesia. Now, local is Singapore, Indonesia is not local for my 'current' situation. But hey, I'm Indonesian, can't stop thinking that my 'locality' is Indonesia.
