How to properly set up and build Apache NetBeans from source for the first time?

[Monolith667]

Hi everyone,

I'm trying to build Apache NetBeans from source to explore the codebase and possibly contribute. I cloned the repository and noticed the project uses Ant rather than Maven or Gradle.

Before building, I want to confirm the correct setup steps.

What is the recommended way to build NetBeans locally from source?
Are there specific JDK versions, dependencies, or environment variables that need to be configured before running the build?

Any guidance for a first-time contributor would be really helpful.

Thanks!

[madebymustafa]

To build Apache NetBeans from source, follow these steps:

1. Install the required JDK
   NetBeans currently requires JDK 17 or later.

2. Install Apache Ant
   NetBeans uses Ant as the primary build system.

3. Clone the repository

git clone https://github.com/apache/netbeans.git
cd netbeans

4. Run the build

ant

This command compiles the IDE and assembles the NetBeans platform.

5. Run NetBeans

After the build completes, you can start the IDE using:

./nbbuild/netbeans/bin/netbeans

Tips for contributors

• Make sure JAVA_HOME points to the correct JDK
• Running ant clean helps if the build fails due to cached artifacts
• The nbbuild directory contains most of the build scripts and configuration

The project documentation also includes contributor guidelines if you plan to work on modules or submit pull requests.

[Monolith667]

Thank you, super helpful!