This is Apache NetBeans Language Server extension for VS Code. Use it to get all the goodies of NetBeans via the VS Code user interface! Runs on JDK11 and all newer versions.
Apache NetBeans Language Server brings full featured Java development (edit-compile-debug & test cycle) for Maven and Gradle projects to VSCode. As well as other features.
-
Use command Java: JDK Configuration to set same JDK in Apache NetBeans Language Server and all other Java settings in VSCode like Integrated terminal
JAVA_HOME
andPATH
, Maven Runtime and JDK for MS Java as well if installed:- Select installed JDK to use for these settings in step 2/3
- In step 3/3 select if settings will be applied at User level for all Workspaces (Folders open) or for current Workspace (Folder) only.
- NetBeans Language Server JDK Home setting
netbeans.jdkhome
is also available inVSCode | Preferences | Settings ...
Netbeans: Jdkhome
. More below in section Selecting the JDK - Setting
netbeans.project.jdkhome
holds a path to a JDK that is used as a default platform for opened folder/workspace (e.g. Java project). To avoid possible issues with default platform changing (i.e. changes from JDK21 to JDK8), NBLS is restarted whennetbeans.project.jdhome
changes.
-
Use Java: New Project... " command to start creating new project, or
-
Open the folder with existing pom.xml for Maven or Gradle project files (build.gradle, gradle.properties).
- Language Server opens the project, performs priming build and might ask for Resolving problems, usually related to opening subprojects etc.
-
Or simply create a new Java class file with
public static void main(String[] args)
method in opened folder and start coding, compiling, debugging. Works on JDK 8 and newer.
When running this extension on GraalVM, as its runtime JDK, behind proxy it requires GraalVM JavaScript (Graal.JS) component installed to perform automatic proxy resolution. Either install Graal.JS using GraalVM VSCode extension available on Marketplace or invoke gu install js
for GraalVM used by VSCode.
- Java: New Project... allows creation of new Maven or Gradle project
- Java: New from Template... add various files to currently selected open project. Files are:
- Java - broad selection of various predefined Java classes
- Unit tests - JUnit and TestNG templates for test suites and test cases
- HTML5/JavaScript - Templates for JS, HTML, CSS,... files
- Other - various templates for JSON, YAML, properties, ... files
- Java: Compile Workspace - invoke Maven or Gradle build
- Debugger Java+... - start main class or test on selected JDK. More in Debugger section
- Progress shown for long running operations with cancel support for selected types
- Native Image Debugger is a new Run configuration added which allows Java style debugging of Ahead of Time compiled native-images, produced by GraalVM. It is experimental feature which works with GDB on Linux. GDB 7.11 or GDB 10.1+ is required due to known issue #26139 in GDB 8 and 9.
- It is also possible to attach to running native image process using Attach to Native Image launch configuation.
- Micronaut and Spring support especially for YAML configuration files with code completion and source code navigation to Java.
- Test Explorer for Java tests results visualization and execution including editor code Lenses.
- Maven and Gradle support including multi-project projects, subprojects opening and Gradle priming builds.
Project Explorer provides an overview of logical project structure, groups sources together and greatly simplifies Java package structure exploration. Project Explorer is an addition to the classical workspace explorer. Use it to build, test, execute and operate your Maven and Gradle Java projects.
Language Server Java+ ... launch configuration supports debugging and running Java applications using JDK11 or newer.
- The launch configuration (debugger) is invoked when
Run main | Debug main
code lense is selected in the code. - Or Java+... is selected in Run and Debug activity panel.
- Launch Java App - Debug or Run current Java project
- Launch Java: Continuous Mode - Runs Micronaut project and reloads it when source code has been changed.
- Attach to Port & Attach to Process - Attach debugger actions. Available when Java+ ... at the bottom of drop down list is selected.
Default launch configurations provided by Language Server can modified in launch.json
file using intellisense for available options.
Program arguments, VM options, evironment variables,... can be set in Run Configuration panel a part of Explorer. The panel is sufficient for all typical use-cases Java programmer faces. Only advanced, expert scenarios may require touching of launch.json
(which still takes precedence).
Class level refactorings as well as variable refactorings are supported in VSCode via Apache NetBeans extension. See following screenshots:
Some refactorings are two steps with like Override method ... where method to be overriden is selected in 2nd step:
Change method parameters refactoring is provided using dedidacated form allowing to change, add, move, remove method parameters.
Move members refactoring provides dedicated form as well.
- Convert to static import
- Rename
- Pull member up & down
- Move class
- Extract interface/method
- Extract local variable
- Assign to variable
- Generate hashCode/equals
- Generate toString()
- Surround With refactoring
- For cycle refactoring
- try-catch refactoring
- switch() statement
- while() cycle
- Inline redundant variable
- Constructor and method argument refactoring
Out of the box support for organizing imports in Java sources is available. It removes unused imports, groups imports by packages and updates your imports whenever a file is saved. In addition to the defaults, there is a rich set of configuration options.
Go to VSCode Preferences | Settings
and search for NetBeans to set Netbeans > Java > Imports:
options:
Count For Using Star Import
- Class count to use a star-import, 999 means any numberCount For Using Static Star Import
- Members count to use a static star-import, 999 means any numberGroups
- Groups of import statements (specified by their package prefixes) and their sorting order. Import statements within a group are ordered alphabetically
And Netbeans > Java > On Save: Organize Imports
- Enable organize imports action on a document save
When adding JavaDoc to code NetBeans assists by suggesting to insert preformatted and prepopulated JavaDoc comment. Type /**
above method signature and IDE offers to complete the JavaDoc. The action creates JavaDoc comment with all arguments prepared.
Formatting source code is possible using also other styles than NetBeans. Eclipse, Google and Spring formatters can be used. For Eclipse formatter simply export settings from Eclipse IDE into standard file and then set Netbeans > Format: Settings Path:
in VSCode Settings.
NetBeans Language Server provides Test Explorer view which allows to run all tests in a project, examine the results, go to source code and run particular test.
NetBeans Language Server allows Java like debugging of native images produced by GraalVM native-image tool. It is provided using GDB and via new Run configuration named Launch Native Image. This experimental feature works now only on Linux with certain version of GDB, see above.
In order to debug native image applications it is necessary to build such native image with debug information available. It can be done by providing following switches for native-image tool:
-g -O0
or-H:Debug=2 -H:Optimize=0
.
It is possible to use Native-Image Maven Plugin to run native-image builds for Maven projects.
In this case add following <buildArgs>
into plugin <configuration>
:
<buildArgs>
<buildArg>-g</buildArg>
<buildArg>-O0</buildArg>
</buildArgs>
Setting project's Maven pom.xml to skip native-image build everytime when project is being built is a good practice.
When native image is built, including debug info then add Launch Native Image configuration to launch.json. Select it in Run & Debug activity window and press F5 to debug Java source code on native image.
Database Explorer allows to connect to databases using appropriate JDBC drivers.
Make Default Connection sets selected Database connection as default for IDE. This connection is then used by all IDE editors for SQL Code completion, or Micronaut Data queries, e.g. findByPagesGreaterThan
Oracle Cloud Infrastructure Explorer supports viewing compartments and resources available on user OCI instance. It is defined by OCI config file which has to be downloaded according to OCI instructions and saved in <users_home>/.oci/config
It is possible to add JDBC connection to Oracle Autonomous DB running in OCI using Add DB Connection menu. It downloads DB Wallet automatically.
Cloud Assets panel shows Micronaut OCI Properties to be set. These are read from project artefacts currently provided in project pom.xml or build.gradle. When user OCI configuration file .oci/config
is present it allows to set various OCI assets (resources) needed for project runtime using user OCI tenancy.
It is also possible to generate suggested OCI Policies needed by project to run in OCI and copy & paste these policies into OCI Cloud Console.
- netbeans.jdkhome - path to the JDK, see dedicated section below
- netbeans.verbose - enables verbose extension logging
- netbeans.conflict.check - avoid conflicts with other Java extensions, see below
The user projects are built, run and debugged using the same JDK which runs the Apache NetBeans Language Server. The JDK is being searched in following locations:
netbeans.jdkhome
setting (workspace then user settings)java.home
setting (workspace then user settings)JDK_HOME
environment variableJAVA_HOME
environment variable- current system path
As soon as one of the settings is changed, the Language Server is restarted.
The extension will check if source level Java (defined in the project) is compatible with the one used by extension. It checks if the source level Java version is lower or equal to the Java version used by extension, and if this condition is not fulfilled, it will show warning message.
It will not perform the check if the RedHat extension is installed.
It is possible to run Apache NetBeans Language Server per workspace (VSCode window). This allows separation of Language Server for given project as Language Server JVM is not shared for more VSCode open workspaces (projects).
It is possible to change this in Preferences | Settings | Netbeans: Userdir
. Set to local
to use dedicated Language Server per workspace or set to global
(this is default) to have one Language Server for all VSCode workspaces.
Apache NetBeans Language Server extension isn't the only Java supporting extension. To avoid duplicated code completion and other misleading clashes the extension disables certain functionality known to cause problems, this is done per Workspace.
This behavior can be disabled by setting netbeans.conflict.check
setting to false
.
Read building instructions to help Apache community to improve the extension.