Apache NetBeans

Judgement

What it is

Developer tool

What it does

An open-source IDE and application platform for Java, with support for PHP, JavaScript and other languages, Maven and Gradle projects and a GUI builder.

Adopt it when

You develop in Java and want a free, Apache-governed IDE, or maintain Swing desktop apps built on the NetBeans Platform.

Watch out

Its plugin ecosystem and community are much smaller than IntelliJ IDEA's or VS Code's.

Ready for

Production-ready

Runs as

Desktop app

Built with

Java

How established

Established: started 9 years ago, latest release 31.

What the license allows

You can build it into a product you sell, as long as you keep its copyright notice.

Judged on 2026-11-06 from the project's README and GitHub data. The license and age lines are worked out directly.

Built from

Follow it down: Apache NetBeans → JDK → LLVM project → runs on a microchip

How compilers were built, back to punched paper tape

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