How to Install NetBeans on Linux

Edited 4 weeks ago by ExtremeHow Editorial Team

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NetBeans is an integrated development environment (IDE) used for development with Java, PHP, C++, and other programming languages. If you are a programmer or learning to code, installing NetBeans on your Linux system is a great way to set up a feature-rich programming environment. This comprehensive guide takes you step-by-step through the process of installing NetBeans on a Linux system.

Prerequisites

Before installing NetBeans, you must have the Java Development Kit (JDK) installed because NetBeans runs on the Java platform. You must ensure that you have Java installed on your system. You can check if Java is already installed by running the following command in your Linux terminal:

java -version

If you see a version number displayed, it means that you have Java installed on your system. If not, you will need to install it. For most Linux distributions, you can install the OpenJDK package, which is available in the official repositories. Here is how you can do it on different Linux distributions:

Installing OpenJDK on Ubuntu/Debian

sudo apt update sudo apt install default-jdk

Installing OpenJDK on Fedora

sudo dnf install java-11-openjdk-devel

Installing OpenJDK on CentOS/RHEL

sudo yum install java-11-openjdk-devel

After installing the JDK, run java -version once again to verify that the installation was successful. Now that Java is installed, you are ready to install NetBeans.

Downloading NetBeans

The NetBeans IDE can be downloaded from the official Apache NetBeans website. Visit the website and go to the downloads section. Choose the latest stable version of NetBeans available at that time. The website will provide you with different download options. For Linux, you will probably need a Linux installation package.

Choose the appropriate version and download the 'Apache NetBeans' tar.gz file. Usually, the file name will be something like 'apache-netbeans-XX-bin.tar.gz'. Make sure you save the file in a location you can easily access from the terminal, such as your home directory or Downloads folder.

Extracting archives

Once the download is complete, open your terminal and navigate to the directory where the tar.gz file is located. For example, if the file was saved in the Downloads directory:

cd ~/Downloads

Extract the downloaded NetBeans archive using the following command:

tar -xf apache-netbeans-XX-bin.tar.gz

Replace 'XX' with the version number you downloaded. After extracting, you will see a new directory inside your current directory, named something like 'netbeans'. This folder contains all the files required to run the NetBeans application.

Running NetBeans

To run NetBeans, go to the 'bin' directory inside the extracted 'netbeans' directory:

cd netbeans/bin

Execute the NetBeans IDE using the following command:

./netbeans

NetBeans should start, and you should be greeted with a welcome screen. If you want to create a shortcut to run NetBeans without having to navigate to the directory each time, you can create a symbolic link or create a desktop entry.

Create a desktop entry (optional)

If you want to create a launcher icon for NetBeans that you can access from your Applications menu, follow these steps:

1. First, you need to open a text editor. Use any text editor you're comfortable with such as nano, gedit, or vim. Here's how you can use gedit:

   gedit ~/.local/share/applications/netbeans.desktop

2. When the text editor opens, paste the following content into it:

   [Desktop Entry]
   Version=1.0
   Type=Application
   Name=NetBeans IDE
   Comment=Integrated Development Environment
   Exec=/path/to/netbeans/bin/netbeans
   Icon=/path/to/netbeans/nb/netbeans.png
   Terminal=false
   Categories=Development;IDE;

   Replace /path/to/netbeans with the actual path where you extracted the NetBeans files from.

3. Save the file and exit the text editor.

This will create an entry under the Development category in your Applications menu. You can now start NetBeans from your Applications menu like any other Linux app.

Configuring NetBeans

Once you have NetBeans running, there are several configurations you can consider to optimize the IDE for your needs. Here are some general configuration tips:

Configuring the JDK

Since NetBeans depends on Java, you may have to specify the JDK used by the IDE, especially if you have multiple Java versions installed. You can define the JDK home path in NetBeans via:

1. Open NetBeans.
2. Go to Tools > Java Platform.
3. Click 'Add Platform' and browse to the home directory of your JDK.
4. Follow the steps to complete the setup process.

Setting up plugins

NetBeans supports a range of plugins to extend its functionality. To manage plugins:

1. Go to Tools > Plugins.
2. In the Plugins dialog, click the Available Plugins tab to see a list of possible plugins to install.
3. Mark the plugins you want and click 'Install'.

Customizing the look and feel

You may also want to change the appearance of the IDE:

1. Go to Tools > Options.
2. Go to the Appearance tab to customize your online theme, fonts, etc.

Troubleshooting common problems

Sometimes you may encounter problems while installing or running NetBeans. Here are some common problems and how to resolve them:

Java version compatibility

Make sure that the version of NetBeans you are installing is compatible with the version of Java on your system. If you have problems starting the IDE, verify that you do not have a mismatch in versions.

Permissions

If you are unable to execute NetBeans, you may need to modify permissions to allow execution. Use the following command to grant execution permission to the NetBeans binary:

chmod +x /path/to/netbeans/bin/netbeans

Modify /path/to/netbeans with your actual installation directory.

Missing dependencies

Make sure your Linux distribution is fully updated and supports all the necessary libraries to run Java applications. Usually, installing the JDK will satisfy most of the dependencies.

Updating NetBeans

As new versions of NetBeans are released, you may want to keep your IDE updated. Typically, updating involves downloading the new version and repeating the installation process. However, sometimes the built-in update tool in NetBeans can identify updates to the IDE and plugins.

1. Go to Tools > Plugins.
2. Click on the Updates tab.
3. Check for any available updates and install them.

Conclusion

Congratulations! You have successfully installed and configured NetBeans on your Linux system. This IDE is quite powerful and offers a lot of functionality for developers of different levels. From writing simple Java applications to working on complex enterprise projects, NetBeans provides a friendly development environment. Remember to update both your JDK and NetBeans regularly to benefit from the latest features and improvements.

Keep experimenting with different plugins and configurations to find the best plugins and configurations for your development workflow.

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