Python Development in NetBeans IDE

The nbPython project aims to provide support for Python development to NetBeans IDE. Below follow the step-by-step instructions for getting started!

 

 

 

The bits are available (milestone releases) for download now as NetBeans modules (nbms).

Let us get started:

1. Download/lnstall the M3 NBMs from here.


2. Fire up NetBeans IDE.


3. Go to Tools -> Plugins -> Downloaded Tab.


4. Click on "Add Plugins" and select all the NBM files in the unzipped directory.


5. Now, you will see all the chosen modules along with their descriptions. You should see something like this:








Press the "Install" button.




Using NetBeans IDE 6.1, I get a dependency error:










Then, I downloaded a latest build NetBeans IDE Build 200806220002 from here and repeated the above steps. This time there was no dependency problem.




You will get a "Validation Warning". Press "Continue":






The installation will continue and will be over without any further user interaction required.

 

Creating a New Python Project

1. Go to File-> New Project-> Python-> Python Project. Choose a Project Name- say "HelloNbPython". Click on Finish.
   
   


2. A new project gets created and is visible in the Project Explorer window. No default file is created.


3. Right Click on the project name, and select New-> Empty Python File. Enter a name, say- HelloWorld.
   
   


4. A Python script will be generated for you which will simply print "Hello World".

The project tree is now as follows:

• HelloNbPython/
  • pyproject/
    • project.properties
  • src/
    • HelloWorld.py

 

Runing a Python Script

1. Right Click on HelloWorld.py in the project explorer and click "Run Python Script".


2. First time I did this, I got the following exception message:
   
   java.io.IOException: Cannot run program "/home/amit/netbeans-dev-200806220002/nbpython/jython-2.5/bin/jython" (in directory "/home/amit/NetBeansProjects/HelloNbPython"): java.io.IOException: error=13, Permission denied
   
   
3. So I checked the file permission of the 'jython' executable:
   • $ ls -l jython
     -rw-r--r-- 1 amit amit 5101 2008-06-22 15:05 jython
   • As you can see there is no executable permission for 'jython' as indicated by the absence of the 'x' flag
   • So, I made the 'jython' executable by: chmod +x jython
     
     
4. Run the script again and you should get "Hello World" in the output window.