Textpad vs JCreator vs jEdit vs UltraEdit

[Peter Mount]

Hi

I'm looking for a choice of IDE/Java editor for Windows that I can use for everything if possible. This is my situation:

I'm a part time IT student and I want to sit the Certifation exam for Sun Java Programmer (j2se). I've studied Java to j2se level in my studies. I've used both TextPad (in class) and JCreator in relation to my studies so I'm not unfamiliar with them

I'm developing and maintaining a php web site plus I'm looking at using jsp2/servlets in the small business I'm trying to start up. I've downloaded Netbeans 4.0 to learn jsp2/servlets but I find it a frustrating IDE to work with, mainly because of the way it seems to hide certain files in the sample files I've downloaded for the book by Hans Bergsten on JavaServer Pages. I've downloaded Eclipse with the PHPEclipse plugin for the PHP web site I'm working on. This is with PHP 4.3.x, not my choice as I'm stuck with the web host for the people I'm doing the php site for.

Eclipse seems great but I'm concerned that it's not the best to use if I want to study for Certification. I'm thinking it might be the same with JDeveloper.

UltraEdit was recomended to me and I'm also looking at Textpad (which seems a reasonable cost to license), JCreator and jEdit. I'd prefer a free choice if possible though I'll consider ones that are less than $100 US. Which of these would people recomend? It would certainly save space on my hard drive if I can use just one for everything.

Thanks

[Chris Stehno]

A plain text editor is always your friend in a pinch and I dont think any developer should require anything more than that... notice I said require. Desire is another thing. :-)

If you can handle developing in text pad then you have the basics down. You should give Eclipse a more detailed look. It is picking up speed as one of the major IDE players (Eclipse, NetBeans and IntelliJ are the big three). Up until a month ago, I would have recommended NetBeans, but they have stalled out and I too was getting frustrated with their restrictiveness. Eclipse is becomming the edit-anything platform. I would be surprised if you could not find a php editor plugin.

Your IDE of choice will have little effect on your certification... the best advice I can give there is to know the core JavaDocs inside and out, and study the details of the language... some of the questions were pretty obscure.

Good luck and I hope this helps.

[Peter Mount]

Thanks Chris

I'll give Eclipse a more detailed look. I'll need to stick with it for Java development for a few days before I get a real feel for it. I do remember my Java lecturer saying that Eclipse is industry standard. Of course as it's available for free it definitely meets my budget.

I did download the PHPEclipse plugin for Eclipse, for php work, and that's free as well.

Have a good day

Peter Mount

[ July 28, 2005: Message edited by: Peter Mount ]
[ July 28, 2005: Message edited by: Peter Mount ]

[Terry Rappatillo]

Hello Peter,

Originally posted by Peter Mount:
I'm looking for a choice of IDE/Java editor for Windows that I can use for everything if possible. This is my situation:

UltraEdit was recomended to me and I'm also looking at Textpad (which seems a reasonable cost to license), JCreator and jEdit. I'd prefer a free choice if possible though I'll consider ones that are less than $100 US. Which of these would people recomend? It would certainly save space on my hard drive if I can use just one for everything.

I've been using Ultraedit and JCreator for years now and I think that both of them are definitely worth of their license fees. I'd suggest that you take both of them as they complements each others very well.

HTH, Tero