migrating the kids to Netbeans 6.7
I teach a programming class, using a carefully-configured Netbeans and
Java project templates that allow 4th,5th,and 6th graders to write
code. Netbeans has worked beautifully for this, using code guards to
keep them out of trouble and code completion to show them the methods
available to them. I've been pleased with the projects they've come up
with, and Netbeans is central to the success of the class.
We used Netbeans 5.5 two years ago when I last taught the class, and I'd
like to move them to 6.5 or 6.7. However I've run into a couple of
problems.
First, my project template contained the "//GEN-BEGIN:header" and
"//GEN-END:header" to trigger code guards, and it appears that Netbeans
ignores these even though they are still used in Matisse. Is there a
trick to enabling them?
Second, the editor hints lightbulb has been a friend and foe for us.
One thing I've learned is if there is a button the kids will press it,
and it took me a while to figure out that if they mistype a method name,
often they will click on the lightbulb and it generates a method stub
that throws the not-implemented exception. With Netbeans 5.5, this was
a feature I could disable, but I can't find any way to disable it in
Netbeans 6.5. I was able to turn off "Error Fixes->Create Field", but
nothing for methods. Is there a way to do this? I wouldn't mind
turning the lightbulb feature off completely.
To put in a request for the Python people, I'd love for my Java
completions to be available in Jython. Is anyone considering this?
This is on my list of Netbeans projects I'd like to delve into once I
have more time...
Thanks,
Jeremy Faden