NetBeans 7 adds Java 7 SDK support

The Netbeans 7 integrated development environment is now available to download, bringing with it support for the forthcoming Java SE Java Development Kit 7 and HTML 5 editing tools, Oracle said on Wednesday.

Developers using the NetBeans 7 IDE can create, mobile, web, enterprise or desktop applications using Java, PHP, JavaScript, Ajax and C/C++.

"NetBeans IDE 7.0 is the industry’s first IDE to support the upcoming Java Development Kit (JDK) 7 release enabling developers to take advantage of the latest developments in Java and to deliver higher quality applications, faster and easier," Ted Farrell, senior vice president of tools and middleware at Oracle, said in a statement.

The release also brings other Java-related improvements, such as Maven 3 support, JUnit 4.8.2 integration, and editor enhancements that include code completion and hint options. JDK 7 is currently available as a developer preview ahead of its expected release in late July.

For non-Java developers Oracle has also bolstered NetBeans 7 IDE to include better integration with Oracle WebLogic Server, allowing for faster deployment, Oracle said. It also adds JavaServer Faces integration with server libraries.

NetBeans 7 is also better integrated with Oracle Database, adding the ability to edit and deploy stored procedures, as well as simplifying the connection wizard.

Rounding off the list of changes are GlassFish 3.1 improvements, which include the ability to enable and disable deployed applications.

The NetBeans 7 IDE is available to download on the Windows, Mac, Linux, and Oracle Solaris platforms in English, Brazilian Portuguese, Japanese, Russian, and Chinese.

Oracle acquired NetBeans as part of its purchase of Sun, which completed in January 2010 following regulatory approval.