Up until recently, I was still using vi and Pluto to do my portlet development.  Others had recommended switching and I needed to work with the portlet repository at java.net and I realized it was time to make the switch.  The release of the new Java Application Platform SDK really helped.  Here is what I did.

1. Download Java Application Platform SDK Update 2 with Tools
2. Run the installer
• Netbeans is installed with Glassfish (officially named Sun Java System Application Server Platform Edition 9.0) and the new portlet container already deployed.
  
3. Install Maven plugin
• The portlet repository uses maven for building. This plugin integrates maven into Netbeans to make it easy.
  
4. Install Portal Pack plugin
• This plugin allows you to deploy directly to the portlet container from Netbeans.
• Start Glassfish (Runtime tab ->Servers->(right-click) Start
  
• Follow these configuration steps in Netbeans.  However, the steps are backwards.  First configure the Glassfish instance, then the portlet container.
  
5. Download portlet repository source in Netbeans
• Configure for the java.net cvs server
• In Netbeans, CVS->Checkout, wizard screenshot 1, wizard screenshot 2
  
6. Open the project
• Netbeans will prompt after the cvs checkout and ask if you want to open the project.  Select portlet-repository.
  
7. Build the project
• In Netbeans, Build->Build Main Project
• Maven downloads all the dependency libraries automatically
• Look for the BUILD SUCCESSFUL message in the Output window
• To see the individual portlet projects, right-click on the portlet repository project and choose Open Required Projects
  
• 
  
8. Deploy
• Choose the portlet you want to deploy
• Follow these steps to configure the run target for the project
• You can safely ignore this step.  I found that simply right-clicking on the project and choosing Run worked fine.
• Netbeans will automatically start Glassfish
• Look for the message Deployed Successfully message in the Output window.
  
9. View
• Follow these steps to view the portlet in your browser
  

Honestly.  It's that simple.  Then from there you can use the steps to create a new portlet application and build and test your own portlets in Netbeans.

This is something I've been meaning to do for a long time.  The source for the sample from my paper on AJAX and portlets is now in the portlet repository at java.net. This portlet is instructional and shows how AJAX (using DOJO) can be used with a JSR-168 portlet.