API Support update testing program

Introduction

In NetBeans 5.0, we introduced support for developing NB modules and rich client applications built on top of the NB platform. Users of the NB IDE are now able to easily start building their own plug-in modules for the IDE, or standalone platform-based applications. Since the NB 5.0 Beta releases, we have been receiving positive feedback from both internal and external developers saying how cool the new support is and how simple it is to develop modules with it.

The work for 5.0 was done on a tight schedule and many potentially useful but non-critical features had to be postponed in order to meet the 5.0 feature freeze in late August 2005. The time between then and December was spent mostly on stabilization, but the feedback received from users during that period highlighted areas where the new Module Development support (aka API Support) could be improved further. The engineering team working on API Support continued to track these issues and actually have implemented a number of improvements by now.

We continue to give beta and RC build to our users before we release API Support update. So we are asking to our comunity to test this update. The beta testers should report issues against the apisupport component. New mailing list will be created for this purpose. On the mailing list API Support team will answer all questions related to this program. The testing period won't be longer than one month.

Please note that this program has nothing in common with NetCAT 5.0 or its successors.

Awards

Five best bug reporters get new T-Shirt sent by post office.

How to register

In order to participate in this program it is necessary to subscribe to testing@apisupport.netbeans.org mailing list. Subscription to testing@apisupport.netbeans.org can be done by sending empty email to testing-subscribe@apisupport.netbeans.org address.

How to report bugs

Detailed steps how to report bugs against API Support module:

1. Go to report API Support issue. The most common subcomponents are project for the IDE integration and harness for the Ant build system.
2. Write a descriptive summary.
3. Write details about defect - steps how to reproduce.
4. Click to Submit button.

Please add exception stack traces or log files as attachments. Do not paste large blocks of text into the issue's description area.

How to install update

The API Support update will be available via NetBeans autoupdate center. The annoucement about beta release will be sent to testing@apisupport.netbeans.org mailing list.

New features

Detailed list of new features and changes is available in What's New in 5.0 Update 1 document.

The most important new features and changes are listed bellow:

• New Sample App. There is a new application sample (Paint App). It would be made available as a new project template and a tutorial in Update 1.
• Target JDK for building NBM project. The 5.0 support always used the JDK version that IDE was run on for for building NBM projects. There was a frequently repeated requirement to allow the user to select the target JDK. This is now supported in Update 1.
• Allow NBM Project Rename/Move/Copy/Delete. None of these actions was supported in NB 5.0. Providing them in Update 1 makes NBM projects more consistent with other project types supported by the IDE. Copy for Module Suite Project has not been implemented yet.
• Libraries node for NBM project. Again, this is being added to make NBM projects consistent with other project types.
• New File Templates
  • Java Help. Creates all files needed for building a JavaHelp help set.
  • Module Installer. Creates an installer class for a module.
  • Update Center. Links to a published update center descriptor.
  • Option Panel. Adds to the Options dialog.
• 'Create NBMs' action for module suites. It's now possible to generate .nbm files for all module projects in a suite. In addition, an updates.xml file is created to allow for easy setup of a custom update center.
• ...and more, to be listed in a changelog included with the update.
• These features listed in Issuezilla have been fixed.
These defects listed in Issuezilla have been fixed.

UI Specs

There is UI specification for API Support update 1. The UI specification contains detailed UI design of API Support module.

Who we are looking for

We are looking for experienced Java developer with at least basic knowledge of NetBeans APIs. Tutorials and NetBeans API documentation are available at: http://platform.netbeans.org/