It's time to write your first application! These detailed instructions are for users of the NetBeans IDE. The NetBeans IDE runs on the Java platform, which means that you can use it with any operating system for which there is a JDK 6 available. These operating systems include Microsoft Windows, Solaris OS, Linux, and Mac OS X.
A Checklist 
To write your first program, you'll need:
- The Java SE Development Kit 6 (JDK 6)
- For Microsoft Windows, Solaris OS, and Linux: http://java.sun.com/javase/6/download.jsp
- For Mac OS X: http://connect.apple.com
- The NetBeans IDE
- For all platforms: http://www.netbeans.info/downloads/index.php
Creating Your First Application
Your first application,
HelloWorldApp, will simply display the greeting "Hello World!". To create this program, you will:
- Create an IDE project
When you create an IDE project, you create an environment in which to build and run your applications. Using IDE projects eliminates configuration issues normally associated with developing on the command line. You can build or run your application by choosing a single menu item within the IDE.
- Add code to the generated source file
A source file contains code, written in the Java programming language, that you and other programmers can understand. As part of creating an IDE project, a skeleton source file will be automatically generated. You will then modify the source file to add the "Hello World!" message.
- Compile the source file into a .class file
The IDE invokes the Java programming language compiler
(javac), which takes your source file and translates its text into instructions that the Java virtual machine can understand. The instructions contained within this file are known as bytecodes.- Run the program
The IDE invokes the Java application launcher tool (
java), which uses the Java virtual machine to run your application.Create an IDE Project
To create an IDE project:
- Launch the NetBeans IDE.
- On Microsoft Windows systems, you can use the NetBeans IDE item in the Start menu.
- On Solaris OS and Linux systems, you execute the IDE launcher script by navigating to the IDE's
bindirectory and typing./netbeans.- On Mac OS X systems, click the NetBeans IDE application icon.
- In the NetBeans IDE, choose File | New Project.
NetBeans IDE with the File | New Project menu item selected.
3. In the New Project wizard, expand the General category and select Java
Application as shown in the following figure:
NetBeans IDE, New Project wizard, Choose Project page.
4. In the Name and Location page of the wizard, do the following (as shown in the figure below):
- In the Project Name field, type
Hello World App.- In the Create Main Class field, type
helloworldapp.HelloWorldApp.- Leave the Set as Main Project checkbox selected.
- Click Finish.
The project is created and opened in the IDE. You should see the following components:
- The Projects window, which contains a tree view of the components of the project, including source files, libraries that your code depends on, and so on.
- The Source Editor window with a file called
HelloWorldAppopen.- The Navigator window, which you can use to quickly navigate between elements within the selected class.
Add Code to the Generated Source File
When you created this project, you left the Create Main Class checkbox selected in the New Project wizard. The IDE has therefore created a skeleton class for you. You can add the "Hello World!" message to the skeleton code by replacing the line:
with the line:// TODO code application logic hereOptionally, you can replace these four lines of generated code:System.out.println("Hello World!"); // Display the string.with these lines:/**
*
* @author
*/These four lines are a code comment and do not affect how the program runs. Later sections of this tutorial explain the use and format of code comments./**
* The HelloWorldApp class implements an application that
* simply prints "Hello World!" to standard output.
*/
Be Careful When You Type 
Type all code, commands, and file names exactly as shown. Both the compiler (
javac) and launcher (java) are case-sensitive, so you must capitalize consistently.
HelloWorldApphelloworldapp
Save your changes by choosing File | Save.
The file should look something like the following:
/*
* HelloWorldApp.java
*
* Created on February 5, 2006, 6:43 PM
*
* To change this template, choose Tools | Template Manager
* and open the template in the editor.
*/
package helloworldapp;
/**
* The HelloWorldApp class implements an application that
* simply prints "Hello World!" to standard output.
*/
public class HelloWorldApp {
/** Creates a new instance of HelloWorldApp */
public HelloWorldApp() {
}
/**
* @param args the command line arguments
*/
public static void main(String[] args) {
System.out.println("Hello World!"); // Display the string.
}
}Compile the Source File into a .class File
To compile your source file, choose Build | Build Main Project from the IDE's main menu.
The Output window opens and displays output similar to what you see in the following figure:
Output window showing results of building the HelloWorld project.
If the build output concludes with the statement
BUILD SUCCESSFUL, congratulations! You have successfully compiled your program!If the build output concludes with the statement
BUILD FAILED, you probably have a syntax error in your code. Errors are reported in the Output window as hyper-linked text. You double-click such a hyper-link to navigate to the source of an error. You can then fix the error and once again choose Build | Build Main Project.When you build the project, the bytecode file
HelloWorldApp.classis generated. You can see where the new file is generated by opening the Files window and expanding theHello World App/build/classes/helloworldappnode as shown in the following figure.
Files window, showing the generated .class file.
Now that you have built the project, you can run your program.
Run the Program
From the IDE's menu bar, choose Run | Run Main Project.The next figure shows what you should now see.
The program prints "Hello World!" to the Output window (along with other output from the build script).
Congratulations! Your program works!learn more..
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