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Other Tools
All of the aforementioned features are expected, to a
certain degree, within any IDE. However, IDEA includes a number
of other tools that are beyond the expected. Here are a few
examples.
GUI Designer
Developing Swing-based and other graphical user interfaces in
Java can at times, be somewhat cumbersome. IDEA's GUI Designer
works to make this process easier. A layout/form builder tool
allows different graphical elements to be displayed and edited
in a drag-and-drop fashion. This GUI layout is kept separate
from the code, and data bindings are set up. This makes for a
clear separation between presentation and logic. You can even
create a binding before you have created the matching
object(IDEA will set an intention action for you to create the
object later) so you are not held back by this separation. Ant
project integration, I18N support and custom component
integration is also supported here.
Diff Tool
Version 4.0 has an advanced comparison tool that will allow you
to compare two files, compare a selection to clipboard entries,
move distinct changes from one version to another and more.
These changes can include, or not include, whitespace
information. And did I mention these can all be done with a few
keystrokes or mouse clicks?
Version Control Integration
IDEA will integrate with Visual Source Safe, StarTeam and CVS to
allow for teams to work on projects without stepping on each
others' toes. The VSS and StarTeam integrations are good and
features are about what you would expect, check in, check out, mark project
as current, lock and unlock, etc. The CVS integration is
impressive. You do not need to install a CVS client and IDEA
will auto-configure CVS by detecting project files. A File View
tool window allows for easy file browsing - even of remote and
non-integrated CVS repositories. You can use the Diff Tool with
CVS entries. You can roll back, merge and all that other good
stuff; all this from directly within IDEA.
Conclusion
If you're in the market for an IDE, or even if you think you
are happy with your existing IDE, you owe it to yourself to at
least check out IntelliJ IDEA. IDEA offers so many intuitive,
user-friendly tools that it allows you to literally develop as
fast as your ideas come and. Now at version 4, IDEA is a mature
product that will integrate with just about any enterprise.
More Information
Drew Falkman is
the author of the JRun Web Application Construction Kit and co-
author (with Ben Forta) of Reality ColdFusion: J2EE Integration,
both published by Macromedia Press. Over the past 6 years, Drew
has developed over 150 Web applications in all sizes using
ColdFusion and Java. Currently Drew consults, speaks at events,
writes for numerous publications, and teaches courses at
Portland State University. His latest project through his
consulting company, Veraison LLC, was a real-time cattle auction
using Flash Remoting and Flash Communication Server. In
addition, Drew is a member of Team Macromedia, a certified
ColdFusion Developer and a certified Macromedia instructor.
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Elsewhere on internet.com:
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Customizable portal with online training, FAQs, regular news updates, and tutorials.
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