Hi
I can't recommend or not recommend Xcode. My impression, based on
conversations with Apple employees and developers who use Xcode is that
it's several years behind everyone else.
One thing to consider is that you might want an IDE that will work
everywhere Java does in case you end up working in a non-Mac shop, or
need to debug something on a different platform.
The shop I work in has about 20 developers. IntelliJ is the most
popular. There is one full-time Eclipse devotee and then there are a
couple of switch-hitters who use both IntelliJ and Eclipse, because
Eclipse has a better Resin plug-in for debugging the web site. Only one
person uses Xcode.
I'd recommend Eclipse since it's free, runs on all platforms, and has
almost everything IntelliJ has.
If you're willing to spend some money or deal with a 30-day trial
period, here are the reasons I use IntelliJ:
1. Code completion: automatically codes for you based on return types,
saves your precious tendons for your more brilliant thoughts.
2. Pop-up documentation: javadocs and method parameters in floating
windows, a real lifesaver. Javadocs are navigable, too.
3. Intention Actions: makes local variables, fields, constants, method,
and class/interface delaractions. Makes test-first programming a snap.
4. Call Hierarchy: displays the possible routes for calling a method in
a tree format, indespensible!
5. Forward/Back navigation: ctrl-click to navigate source, ctrl-back
arrow to go back. Fast! Easy.
Then there's the renaming and refactoring, which help you do big and
small things much more quickly than you can with regular expressions.
And if you want them, IntelliJ's can do regular expressions
search-and-replace as well.
I honestly don't know if any of these features are in Xcode.
Eclipse has everything here except #4. I don't use Eclipse because I
find the UI confusing.
At the risk of sounding like a salesperson, here is the Flash overview
of IJ:
http://www.jetbrains.com/idea/training/demos/overview.html
Individual features are here:
http://www.jetbrains.com/idea/features/index.html
Good luck and happy coding
Scott
_______________________________________________
Do not post admin requests to the list. They will be ignored.
Java-dev mailing list (email@hidden)
Help/Unsubscribe/Update your Subscription:
http://lists.apple.com/mailman/options/java-dev/email@hidden
This email sent to email@hidden
