The Java Tutorials' Weblog
Monday Oct 29, 2007
Java Beans and the NetBeans IDE
We want to know your opinion on the sensitive issue affecting the Java Beans functionality in the NetBeans IDE.Many releases of NetBeans contained the Beans module - a robust visual tool to create a custom bean, add a property with the Bean Pattern, and edit bean info with the BeanInfo editor. Those features were covered in the Java Beans trail of the Java Tutorial, and some features were discussed in this blog.
Unfortunately, due to a variety of circumstances (see the NetBeans project page for more information) the Beans module was dropped from the 6.0 release of NetBeans. This may impede bean application development. Many typical bean operations are not available through the NetBeans 6.0 GUI, which makes creating a custom bean more than a five-minute task. Additionally, the newly introduced binding functionality will be cruelly limited in the IDE, because even to simply add a bound property you will have to code the getter and setter methods by hand.
So this blog offers you a chance to vote for bringing back the Beans module in the upcoming update release of NetBeans. Please leave your comments in support of the Java Beans functionality.
-- Alla Redko
Posted at 05:37AM Oct 29, 2007 by The Java Tutorial Team | Comments[47]
I was very astonished to see that the bean info editor is dropped in Netbeans 6.0. I used it all the time and I want to have it back again.
Posted by Armin Kling on October 30, 2007 at 12:09 PM PDT #
Thanks for your vote, Armin!
Posted by Alla Redko on October 30, 2007 at 10:59 PM PDT #
I would like to see this make it back into Netbeans 6, in the short time I have been using Netbeans 6, I very much miss the bean patterns display.
Posted by Joe Ferrall on November 06, 2007 at 05:35 AM PST #
That's was indeed a great tool. I'm sticking with NetBeans 5.5 because of this missing feature and I'm not customizing my beans totally by hand. I hope to see it back soon.
Posted by Enrico Maria Crisostomo on November 06, 2007 at 06:23 AM PST #
I think the wise way is to make more easy to build the beans instead dropping beans. The beans is the great thing to make enrichment of capability the IDE. So don't drop it and putting it back.
Posted by slamet on November 06, 2007 at 04:33 PM PST #
Beans are a really useful feature that I would like to have (again) in netbeans!
Thank you
Posted by bruno on November 10, 2007 at 02:29 PM PST #
Joe, Enrico, slamet, bruno,
Thank you so much for your votes.
Your support is very important to influence the NetBeans team.
Posted by Alla Redko on November 12, 2007 at 06:28 AM PST #
Some people don't want to write the code. They prefer any builder tools. It is uncomfortable to create a lot of properties manually. So NetBeans should support beans creation again.
Posted by Sergey Malenkov on November 12, 2007 at 08:12 AM PST #
I use all of this for my lectures at the university. I think the javaBean idea is great and has to be supported at the IDE level and supported and enriched.
Cheers
Posted by Christophe Dony on November 13, 2007 at 03:54 AM PST #
I think NB6 is turning out to become a major step backwards for serious Java programmers. More and more do I get the feeling they're focussing all on the shiney "eye candy" features (which, in all honosty, are very impressive) like JSF table SQL data bindings with a drag and drop, creation of a desktop applicaiton skeleton with simply the creation of a project and naturally the things one can do with project Matisse (once again, despite my overall negative approach also a masterpiece IMO!).
Nothing wrong with all that but when they start removing plain functionality which is essential to Java programming I'd say things are becoming silly. Why do I use an IDE? To take away the burden of writing many lines of code and concentrate on the things which matter. I don't know about you but javabeans, when properly setup, fall right into that category.
First I discovered that they dropped Javadoc, which made me seriously question NB6, and now it turns out Javabeans are gone too? Well, that has made up my mind: I won't be upgrading to NB6 nor would I recommend its usage. I'll stick to 5.5.1.
You guys have my vote all the way!
Posted by Lion-O on November 15, 2007 at 07:53 AM PST #
Instead of evolving we are regressing. IDE is a mean to develop faster and, as the name states "Integrated", not "Dissolved". I´m considering leaving this IDE completely, cause i see key fetures that used to make the difference between IDE´s, being taken. What´s causing this mentality shift; to take away features instead of adding?
Posted by José Mendes on November 20, 2007 at 03:34 PM PST #
I think NB6 is GREAT and not at all a step backwards - but I do miss the 'bean patterns' feature a lot! I think it could be improved - it wasn't perfect - but I certainly want it back in ANY form.
Posted by António Marques on November 22, 2007 at 09:00 AM PST #
I agree also.
I recently changed IDEs (from JCreator) to Netbeans 5.5.1 since it has both Matisse and support for Javabeans.
Without decent javabean support There is absolutely no way i'll change to 6.0, so you have my vote too!
Posted by Dougall Winship on November 27, 2007 at 08:13 AM PST #
Just downloaded NetBeans 6, and then 5 min later completely removed it! Why? No Beans Module, its like dropping the invention of the wheel for squares. Evolution has just gone backwards!
Posted by Jaco Bester on December 03, 2007 at 06:31 AM PST #
Put it back now please. I am trying to promote the use of NB6 and when I came to demonstrate one my favourite features, the wizard for adding listeners, it was gone! This is not a good thing!
Posted by Mark Phipps on December 03, 2007 at 07:05 AM PST #
I use the bean support for my lectures at the university. I need it back now. Is there any alternative module?
Posted by Frank Teubler on December 03, 2007 at 03:36 PM PST #
I just started using v6 and within the first 10 minutes I noticed the missing bean patterns. PUT it back! I use it all the time to create set/get methods - It was a great time saver. I also use the listener wizard all the time. Please, Please, put it back!
I'm going back to 5.5.x
Posted by Dave on December 08, 2007 at 05:51 PM PST #
Another vote here as well. I've tried NB6 and quite frankly don't like it. My problems go beyond the lack of functions like bean patterns, auto commenting, lack of main class icons in the Projects window, etc. I also get the distinct feeling that the Netbeans team is trying to copy a lot of the looks and feel of other IDEs which is IMO not the best move to make. The IDE I'm mainly referring to here is IntelliJ IDEA btw. This probably sounds silly but to me Netbeans isn't Netbeans anymore but more like some kind of hybrid which has regained a lot of old bugs and lost a lot of sheer functionality. I sure hope they bring back the "old" Netbeans somehow someday. But untill then...
Posted by Peter on December 11, 2007 at 03:35 AM PST #
Bring back the Beans Module!!!
If we are whining about other things, 6.0 is a little of a memory hog and needs some optimization but other than that it seems to be a step forward.
Posted by Thoalex on December 13, 2007 at 03:24 PM PST #
Agreed.
Posted by Vellu on December 16, 2007 at 11:40 AM PST #
I fully agree too.
I am still using NB 5.5.1 for a few things (JavaBeans...)
THere are a few other things that disappeared from or were downgraded in NB. I think to the class template. I remember that earlier (NB 4.0) it was possible to specify extended class and implemented interfaces.
Posted by Bznoit Callebaut on December 17, 2007 at 12:06 AM PST #
Sandip Chitale's "Add Property" module generates code, which gives some of the old functionality:
http://plugins.netbeans.org/PluginPortal/faces/PluginDetailPage.jsp?pluginid=3973
Posted by Jeremy Faden on December 17, 2007 at 01:48 PM PST #
I agree...
The new features are not useful for me but the bean editor is very important... so i'm uninstalling 6 and return to 5.5
Posted by Maurizio Baldi on December 18, 2007 at 02:36 AM PST #
BeanInfo Editor is a MUST have. I installed Netbeans 6 one hour ago and looked for it for 15 Minutes, then I found out that it was dropped. Well, that's how long NetBeans 6 will be installed on my system.
Posted by FilterPunk on December 18, 2007 at 06:16 AM PST #
I have switched back to nb5 just to use this feature. I terribly miss it and it saves me a lot of time. Please bring it back, this regression is very inconvenient.
Posted by Ravi Dhanrikota on December 20, 2007 at 10:33 AM PST #
I miss the beans module much. I have used a lot in nb 5.5. In nb 6 you can use "Encapsulate fields" or "Insert code/Getters and setters" to create the getters and setters. But i still miss refactoring for bean properties, for example when renaming properties or changing the type. Refactoring bean properties should not only update the local field but also the getters and setters. To do this manually in nb 6 takes *much* longer than it used to do in nb 5.5.
Posted by Mikael on December 28, 2007 at 03:58 AM PST #
Just bring it back the Beans module!!
I really hate writing a whole Bean class by hand ¬¬
Posted by Jason on December 28, 2007 at 11:23 AM PST #
Please please bring back the beaninfo editor! I used it all the time to pop open bean properties to reference while coding some other file. It was incredibly useful, and I feel crippled without it!
Posted by Josh on January 10, 2008 at 08:47 AM PST #
Would love to see this added/brought back. I am learning NB6.0 through a Servlets+JSP course, and am astonished to find that Beans can't be manipulated/added through visual IDE tools in NB.
Seems like a no-brainer to me! :-)
Posted by Salman Ahmed on January 20, 2008 at 01:04 PM PST #
Agree. I use Bean module for everything. Event to develop RCP with netbeans in order to present a javabean in the property window using beaninfo.
It is a basic module
Posted by Isaac Galvan Lañado on January 22, 2008 at 06:36 AM PST #
Java Beans Editor simply is a ..... MUST HAVE no compromise
Posted by bartolomeo on January 24, 2008 at 04:51 AM PST #
not really happy about this loss. It is a staple in my development on all the projects that I have worked, I have used this feature. I want it back.
Posted by justin tim on January 28, 2008 at 07:30 PM PST #
This is very sad when a good feature is dropped in a so called "newer" and better version. I did not know how much I missed until it was gone. Please put the bean patterns feature back in the getter/setter feature sucks....
Posted by Bret Fisher on January 31, 2008 at 08:37 AM PST #
I have NB 5.5.1 running in my college labs, but many of my students are running NB 6.0. I had put in a request to upgrade to NB6 over Reading Week, but the lack of this feature is making me think twice.
Posted by Leon King on February 02, 2008 at 10:51 AM PST #
My projects depend on the development and maintenance of dozens of graphical beans. We choose Netbeans for its ability to create these types of objects, including their Info classes! I can't move forward with Netbeans until later versions continue to support key functionality.
Posted by M. Waligore on February 08, 2008 at 09:47 AM PST #
Here's my vote! The "Bean Pattern" feature is really missing. By the way, the old way using "property"-sheets for all class / interface / ... members is also gone :-(
One should consider to call the product "NetNOBeans" in future ....
Posted by matt on February 20, 2008 at 02:21 AM PST #
my teachers advices us to visit your site because it will do it good to us.
Posted by shulammite on February 25, 2008 at 07:04 PM PST #
I am new to NetBeans (from Eclipse) and this seems to be a major omission. Why was it dropped?
Posted by Martin Haigh on February 28, 2008 at 04:40 AM PST #
i miss bean patterns, is there any plugin for that?
Posted by dmn on March 11, 2008 at 04:49 PM PDT #
there is a plugin: http://plugins.netbeans.org/PluginPortal/faces/PluginDetailPage.jsp?pluginid=3973
and it will come back in netbeans 6.1 :)
Posted by dmn on March 12, 2008 at 09:55 AM PDT #
I've been testing 6.1beta and development builds lately and yes, it is kind 'back'.
The Add Property plugin is certainly a good way to get started. And in case you don't like the default markup, you can even change the way your property gets added by modifying the Freemarker template the plugin uses (Add some default code-folding is nice for example).
Netbeans 6.1 introduces a easy way to create your *BeanInfo classes too.
Posted by Po0ky on March 20, 2008 at 12:38 PM PDT #
we need it, Thanks
Posted by peter pei on April 08, 2008 at 12:09 AM PDT #
Just bring it back the Beans module!!
Posted by parinita on August 28, 2008 at 09:35 AM PDT #
Bring it back it was very time saving. Netbeans is all about productivity right?
Posted by Neil Hathaway on September 29, 2008 at 08:39 AM PDT #
Bring back the bean editor!!!
Great idea creating a blog for this... I think many many people miss this.
I tried eclipse for the first time when I noticed the bean editor has gone, but I'll stick with netbeans for a while, hoping this comes back.
Posted by Charly on September 29, 2008 at 01:43 PM PDT #
I totally agree with Alla's opinion on Bean Patterns. Being a total outsider in Java programming, NB was a real delight to me since it required only technical sense to create programs. Of course, that was until I came across Bean Patterns. I found out that there was no way to use the GUI to add property to Bean Patterns. And now I am left with the unlikely choices of learning Java programming and carrying out the arduous task of defining the source myself or searching for a previous version with all the required patches to run on my PC. when stuck between the devil and the deep sea, I'd choose to wait and grow wings. Please bring out NB with Bean patterns.
Posted by Lucky on February 07, 2009 at 10:19 PM PST #
Vote in favor
Beans module was such a great thing, sure we have now uml support for passing from designing to generated code but the bean module and the bean info editor was just right please take it back
Posted by Israel on May 11, 2009 at 11:55 AM PDT #