Chapter 17. Developing NetBeans Plug-in Modules

• Plug-in Modules

• Rich-Client Applications

• Extending NetBeans IDE with Plug-in Modules

• Setting up a Plug-in Module

• Using the NetBeans APIs

• Registering the Plug-in Module

• Adding a License to a Plug-in Module

• Building and Trying Out a Plug-in Module

• Packaging and Distributing a Plug-in Module

• Packaging and Distributing a Rich-Client Application

• Finding Additional Information

BEGINNING WITH THE 5.0 RELEASE, comprehensive support for plug-in module development was introduced for the first time in NetBeans IDE. Even though it had been possible to create plug-in modules for NetBeans IDE with previous releases, and even though many developers had been doing so, NetBeans IDE did not provide user interface or project system support for developing NetBeans plug-in modules. However, in NetBeans IDE 5.0, a plug-in module development environment was created, aiming to get you started as quickly as possible and guiding you from start to finish. Wizards were provided for setting up the basic framework of a plug-in module project. Further wizards were provided for adding the specific items that you might want to add to the IDE. Finally, a broad range of other user interface features and usability enhancements were added, aiming to simplify and streamline plug-in module development.