As you know, Java IDEs allow developers to write and debug Java programs with ease. A good IDE will have a number of features that help developers to write code easily. The features include debugging, easy editing, toggling of views, and so on.

Your choice of an IDE will depend on a number of factors — nature of the project, your team/organization’s preference, and so on. But there are some basic, non-negotiable requirements that every good IDE has to meet.

It should support the language you use. It could be Scala, Groovy, or Java 8. Whatever the choice, the IDE should be able to work with it. It should be compatible with system controls. It should let you work with your text with ease. It should allow reliable, fast testing, and debugging.

Some of the Best Java IDEs

Eclipse

This open source IDE has long been one of the most reliable and oft-used IDEs. It has one of the most developer friendly frameworks with a number of tools and plug-ins. Developed by IBM to compete against Microsoft Visual Studio tools, it aimed to give Java the same standardization that Microsoft brings to its processes.

Some of the features that make Eclipse so popular are its standardization, built-in testing, debugging, source code generation, host of plug-ins, and easy access to ‘help.’

NetBeans

This open source IDE is easy to install, can run across different platforms, and is easy to use. Its adaptability extends to mobile use, making it a popular IDE in the mobile-centric development world today. Its modular design means that it can also be extended for plug-ins at a later date by third-party Java development programmers team.

BlueJ

Originally developed for educational content, BlueJ has also proved handy in software development at a small scale. It has an interactive interface that is clutter-free, and easy to use and test. This also makes it a great IDE for a beginner to start with. The interface uses boxes to represent classes.

IntelliJ IDEA Community Edition

This free Java IDE was originally developed for Android apps. It has a clutter free, easy to use design that boasts of a number of handy features that help in code development, testing, and debugging.

jEdit

This is a text editor with an extensive plug-in architecture. Some of these took years to develop! It supports a large number of languages (over 200) including Unicode. As a text editor, it allows editing features like search, find, replace, and source code editing.

DrJava

This easy to use IDE has a very interactive interface. This makes it ideal for students. Its testing, debugging, and intelligent editor features were meant to create a light IDE for newbies.

Android Studio

Developed by Google mainly for Android apps, it has proved pretty good with Java coding. It supports Google services and devices.

JCreator

This IDE is confined to Windows and as a native platform, it is easy to install and launch. This makes it popular with new users.

A Java IDE Infographic