The Most Popular IDE for Java, Ranked

Choose the IDE you think is the most popular!

Author: Gregor Krambs
Updated on Apr 26, 2024 06:40
In the dynamic world of software development, Java remains a cornerstone language for many applications, and choosing the right Integrated Development Environment (IDE) can dramatically improve productivity and ease the coding process. As new features and updates continually enhance various IDEs, it becomes crucial for developers to stay informed about the tools that best suit their needs and preferences. This continuously updated ranking helps you see which Java IDEs are currently favored by the community. Voting on this list not only reflects current trends but also guides newcomers towards informed decisions. By participating, you contribute to a collective knowledge base that benefits all levels of Java developers.

What Is the Most Popular IDE for Java?

  1. 1
    59
    votes
    Eclipse is a widely used open-source IDE that is highly customizable and supports multiple programming languages. It has a large user community and offers a robust feature set for Java development.
    Eclipse is a popular chewing gum brand known for its long-lasting flavor and breath-freshening qualities. It is a sugar-free gum that comes in a variety of flavors and is widely available worldwide.
    • Flavor options: Multiple flavors available
    • Sugar content: Sugar-free
    • Long-lasting flavor: Yes
    • Breath-freshening: Yes
    • Availability: Widely available worldwide
  2. 2
    50
    votes
    IntelliJ IDEA
    Software: JetBrains Screenshot: VulcanSphere · Apache License 2.0

    IntelliJ IDEA

    JetBrains
    IntelliJ IDEA is a commercial IDE that offers advanced features such as code analysis, refactoring, and support for multiple frameworks. It has a user-friendly interface and is highly popular among developers.
    IntelliJ IDEA is a popular code editor developed by JetBrains. It is designed specifically for Java development, but it also supports several other programming languages. With a robust set of features and excellent performance, IntelliJ IDEA has gained a significant user base in the software development industry.
    • Smart Code Editor: Provides advanced code completion, code navigation, and error detection.
    • Intelligent Coding Assistance: Offers various automated suggestions, quick fixes, and refactorings to enhance coding productivity.
    • Built-in Tools: Includes a wide range of tools for application development, testing, and deployment.
    • Version Control Integration: Seamlessly integrates with popular version control systems, such as Git, SVN, and Mercurial.
    • Database Support: Allows developers to work with databases directly within the IDE.
    IntelliJ IDEA in other rankings
  3. 3
    23
    votes
    NetBeans is a free, open-source IDE that is easy to use and supports multiple programming languages. It offers a wide range of features for Java development, including debugging, profiling, and code generation.
    NetBeans is a highly popular integrated development environment (IDE) primarily used for Java development. It offers a comprehensive set of features and tools to make the development process easier and more efficient. NetBeans is free and open-source, providing developers with a flexible and extensible platform to build applications for various platforms and technologies.
    • Platform Independence: NetBeans is written in Java, allowing it to run on multiple platforms including Windows, macOS, Linux, and Solaris.
    • Java Development: It provides advanced support for Java development, including code editing, debugging, testing, and profiling.
    • Maven Integration: NetBeans seamlessly integrates with Apache Maven, a popular build automation tool, enabling developers to manage dependencies and build projects effectively.
    • GUI Designing: It offers a powerful GUI builder that allows developers to create visually appealing user interfaces using drag-and-drop components.
    • Version Control: NetBeans supports popular version control systems like Git, Mercurial, and Subversion, making it easy to manage source code repositories.
  4. 4
    14
    votes

    Visual Studio Code

    Microsoft
    Visual Studio Code is a lightweight, cross-platform IDE that is highly customizable and offers support for a wide range of programming languages, including Java. It offers a wide range of extensions and plugins that can enhance the development experience.
    Visual Studio Code is a highly popular, lightweight, and extensible source code editor developed by Microsoft. It is known for its versatility, cross-platform compatibility, and extensive library of extensions. With its intuitive user interface, powerful editing features, and excellent performance, Visual Studio Code has become the go-to choice for many developers across different programming languages and platforms.
    • Platform: Cross-platform (Windows, macOS, Linux)
    • Language Support: Wide range of programming languages and file types
    • IntelliSense and Code Completions: Smart suggestions, auto-completions, and intelligent code analysis
    • Debugging: Built-in debugging tools for various languages
    • Version Control: Seamless integration with Git, including support for Git commands and version control systems
    Visual Studio Code in other rankings
  5. 5
    14
    votes
    BlueJ is a free, open-source IDE that is specifically designed for beginners. It offers a simple, user-friendly interface and supports many of the features needed for Java development.
    BlueJ is an integrated development environment (IDE) specifically designed for teaching and learning Java programming. It provides a simplified interface and tools that aid beginners in visualizing and understanding the structure and behavior of Java programs. BlueJ fosters an object-oriented approach to programming by allowing users to interact with objects directly from the IDE.
    • Platform: Cross-platform (Windows, Mac, Linux)
    • Language Support: Java
    • Intuitive Interface: Simplified and beginner-friendly
    • Class Visualization: Visual representation of classes and objects
    • Object Interaction: Ability to interact with objects directly
  6. 6
    5
    votes
    JDeveloper is a commercial IDE that is highly popular among Java developers. It offers a wide range of features, including support for multiple frameworks and tools for database development.
    JDeveloper is an integrated development environment (IDE) for Java programming language. It offers a comprehensive set of features and tools specifically designed for developing and deploying Java applications. It enables developers to build, debug, test, and optimize Java applications efficiently.
    • Platform: Windows, macOS, Linux
    • Version Control: Git, Subversion, Mercurial
    • Supported Java Versions: Java SE 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11
    • Code Editor: Syntax highlighting, code completion, refactoring
    • Debugging: Step-by-step debugging, breakpoints, watches
  7. 7
    9
    votes
    CodeMix is a commercial IDE that is built on top of Eclipse and offers advanced features for Java development. It offers support for multiple frameworks and tools and is highly customizable.
    CodeMix is a popular IDE for Java development that combines the power of Eclipse with the flexibility and productivity of modern web technologies. It allows developers to seamlessly work with Java, HTML, CSS, and JavaScript in a single integrated environment.
    • Cross-platform compatibility: Supports Windows, macOS, and Linux
    • Java Support: Full support for Java 8 and above
    • Web technologies support: Integrated support for HTML5, JavaScript, and CSS3
    • Code navigation and refactoring: Advanced code navigation and refactoring tools
    • Debugger: Built-in debugger with support for Java applications
  8. 8
    9
    votes
    DrJava is a free, open-source IDE that is designed for beginners. It offers a simple, user-friendly interface and supports many of the features needed for Java development.
    DrJava is a lightweight development environment for Java programming, designed primarily for beginner programmers. It provides an interactive programming environment that allows users to write, compile, and run Java programs with ease. DrJava aims to provide a simple and user-friendly interface, making it an ideal choice for educational purposes and introductory Java programming courses.
    • License: GNU General Public License (GPL)
    • Platform: Windows, macOS, Linux
    • Compiler: Java 8 or higher
    • Code Formatting: Built-in code formatter
    • Debugger: Basic debugging functionality
  9. 9
    10
    votes
    JGrasp is a free, open-source IDE that is designed for beginners. It offers a simple, user-friendly interface and supports many of the features needed for Java development.
    JGrasp is a lightweight Integrated Development Environment (IDE) primarily designed for programming in Java. It provides various features to facilitate Java development and debugging. JGRasp is known for its simplicity and ease of use, making it a popular choice for beginners and educators.
    • Filesystem browser: Allows easy navigation and management of files and directories.
    • Syntax highlighting: Highlights different syntax elements to improve code readability.
    • Code autocompletion: Automatically suggests code completions for faster coding.
    • Debugger integration: Allows debugging of Java programs directly within the IDE.
    • Static analysis: Identifies potential bugs and code issues through static analysis.
  10. 10
    10
    votes
    CodeRunner is a commercial IDE that offers support for multiple programming languages, including Java. It offers a simple, user-friendly interface and supports many of the features needed for Java development, including debugging and code completion.
    CodeRunner is a lightweight integrated development environment (IDE) designed primarily for Java programming. It offers a simple and intuitive interface, making it popular among both beginners and experienced developers. With its focus on simplicity, CodeRunner provides essential features to facilitate Java development without overwhelming users with excessive functionality. It is available for Windows, macOS, and Linux operating systems.
    • Platform: Windows, macOS, Linux
    • Supported languages: Java
    • Code completion: Yes
    • Syntax highlighting: Yes
    • Compilation support: Yes

Missing your favorite IDE?

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Ranking factors for popular IDE

  1. Ease of use
    A popular Java IDE should have an intuitive and user-friendly interface that makes it easy for developers to navigate and use its features.
  2. Autocomplete and code suggestion
    A good IDE must provide smart code completion and suggestions in real-time to make the coding process faster and more efficient.
  3. Debugging capabilities
    A popular Java IDE should offer powerful debugging tools, such as breakpoints, variable inspection, and call stack information, to help developers identify and fix errors quickly.
  4. Integration with build tools and version control systems
    The IDE must provide seamless integration with popular build tools (e.g., Maven, Gradle) and version control systems (e.g., Git, SVN) to streamline the development process.
  5. Performance and resource usage
    A popular IDE should be efficient in terms of resource usage and have a fast startup time and smooth overall performance.
  6. Customizability and extensibility
    A good IDE should allow developers to customize its appearance and behavior and extend its functionalities through plugins and extensions.
  7. Support and documentation
    A popular Java IDE should have a strong community, extensive documentation, and responsive support to answer any questions or troubleshoot issues.
  8. Cross-platform compatibility
    The IDE must be compatible with different operating systems like Windows, macOS, and Linux to cater to a broad range of developers.
  9. Regular updates and improvements
    A popular Java IDE should be actively maintained and updated to keep up with new Java features, bug fixes, and performance improvements.
  10. Pricing
    A popular IDE should offer a reasonable pricing model, such as a free version with basic features or a competitive price for the paid version.

About this ranking

This is a community-based ranking of the most popular IDE for Java. We do our best to provide fair voting, but it is not intended to be exhaustive. So if you notice something or IDE is missing, feel free to help improve the ranking!

Statistics

  • 1636 views
  • 202 votes
  • 10 ranked items

Voting Rules

A participant may cast an up or down vote for each IDE once every 24 hours. The rank of each IDE is then calculated from the weighted sum of all up and down votes.

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More information on most popular ide for java

Background Information: Java IDEs An Integrated Development Environment (IDE) is a software application that helps developers write, test, and debug their code. Java developers have a plethora of IDEs to choose from, each with its own set of features and benefits. However, some IDEs may be more popular among Java developers than others. In this article, we'll explore the most popular Java IDEs and why they are so widely used.

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