Eclipse: the 3 best alternatives
In this article we show you the three best alternatives to Eclipse. The well-known tool for programmers is very comprehensive and comes with almost all conceivable functions. Nevertheless, there are alternatives with which you can program just as well and which have their own advantages.
Eclipse Alternative 1: Netbeans
The most well known alternative to Eclipse is Netbeans. The development environment programmed by Java offers a tidy interface with many features. You can download Netbeans here.
- Netbeans IDE was written entirely in Java and is therefore also specialized in this language. C, C ++ and other dynamic programming languages are also supported. There are many different download kits available that extend Netbeans. In this way you can adapt the development environment exactly to your needs.
- Since Netbeans is open source, you don't have to pay anything for the tool. The platform is distributed worldwide and is accordingly supported by many members and partners. You can also download plugins that integrate programming languages such as ADA, Ruby, Fortress, Fortran and many more into your Netbeans environment.
Eclipse Alternative 2: BlueJ
If you are looking for a simple environment, you will find it at BlueJ. This environment was specially developed for training purposes and therefore focuses on clarity and the context in Java. You can download BlueJ free of charge here.
- BlueJ focuses on teaching and access for beginners. Here the relationships in object-oriented programming are made clear to you. The surface is tidy and does not overwhelm at first glance. You also have the option of visualizing your objects and classes and making changes to the code yourself in the graphics.
- The BlueJ environment is also free and can be used under the GPL license. If you start your program in BlueJ, you can import it into Netbeans later. This is especially useful if you prefer to learn the basics at the beginning. Then you still have the option to switch to the much larger Netbeans later.
Eclipse Alternative 3: Visual Studio
The Visual Studio from Microsoft completely supports its high-level languages. If you want to develop something for Windows and the .NET Framework, you should give Visual Studio a try. You have to do without Java or anything that has nothing to do with Windows here. You can download Microsoft Visual Studio here.
- Microsoft's Visual Studio supports .NET, C, C ++, SQL Server, Python and many other programming languages. This makes it easy to program applications for Windows. You will also find suitable tools for the Windows Phone here. With extensions, apps for Android and iOS can also be programmed. For web development, Visual Studio offers HTML, Javascript and CSS.
- Visual Studio is free of charge during the trial period, but will be subject to a charge afterwards. Microsoft supports its own development environment with regular updates and extensions. This makes the tool attractive to you in the long term if you specialize in Windows applications.
We will present the 5 best development environments for the browser in the next practical tip.