Installing NetBeans IDE 7.0.1 for Ubuntu 11.10

I needed a Java editor and compiler for an assignment, and I found that NetBeans seems to be good for beginners while the Eclipse IDE might be better for more advanced users.

NetBeans website: http://netbeans.org/index.html

The version I am installing is the full version which also allows for C/C++ compiling and several other features.

There are other compilers such as the Gnu C and C+ compiler collection which also can handle Fortran and Java.  However, I am not sure if it has a GUI like NetBeans or if you just have to use a text editor like Gedit or JEdit then use the terminal to compile (yes this is true; you have to use a text editor to write the program, then compile in the terminal).

The Gnu Compiler Collection, GCC - http://gcc.gnu.org/

In order to install NetBeans, I just went to there website and downloaded the latest stable version for Ubuntu Linux which is this file: netbeans-7.0.1-ml-linux.sh


Download here, where you can choose what type of package (full, java only, etc.) you want and for what type of OS: http://netbeans.org/downloads/index.html

Installing was a little tricky, but through Google searches I finally found how it worked for me.

This site instructs you to use the Ubuntu Software Center, but I could not find it in my installation: http://blog.sudobits.com/2011/04/30/how-to-install-netbeans-ide-on-ubuntu-11-04/

That site also offers the alternate installation from the terminal using the commands:

sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install netbeans


This did not work for me either.

The NetBeans installation instructions on their website to execute the command "chmod + x ."  However, there is no instruction on what to do next except "run the file" which I couldn't figure out what to do.

http://netbeans.org/community/releases/70/install.html#installation

The Ubuntu Community page instructs users to install from the website or the NetBeans binaries.  The link didn't work and the binary instructions are long and complicated.

https://help.ubuntu.com/community/Netbeans

I finally figured out from this site that I could double-click the .sh file and run it to start the installation process: http://nitesh68.blogspot.com/2011/05/insatlling-netbeans-70-in-ubuntu-1104.html

However, you need to install a JDK (Java Development Kit) first.  I installed open-JDK-6 from the Synaptic Package Manager.  I chose 6 because it seems to be stable(?) rather than 7.

http://blog.sudobits.com/2011/05/28/how-to-install-jdk-on-ubuntu-11-04/

http://netbeans.org/downloads/index.html

Some info on Java and some of its implementations from the Ubuntu Community site:

https://help.ubuntu.com/community/Java