NetBeans 7.3 embraces web with arrival of HTML5 support

The latest version of open source IDE adds in modern web development support, with renovated JavaScript, CSS support
Oracle have released the latest version of open source IDE, NetBeans 7.3, recognising the need to include tools for modern web development support within the package.
Primarily aimed at Java developers, the development environment
already supported for other languages such as PHP, Groovy and C.
However, the arrival of Project
Easel in NetBeans 7.3 could be its most important
addition for years, aiding the creation of HTML5 applications from
scratch.
To forge greater links with the web, NetBeans 7.3 also includes a
Chrome extension allowing window size to be quickly modified (for
testing responsive designs) and debugging of live JavaScript from
within the IDE, whilst HTML previews are handled by an internal
WebKit browser. Code completion support for jQuery and CSS3 is also
included.
JavaScript support has been radically overhauled, with a rewritten
editor and debugger based on the Nashorn JavaScript project, the
newest implementation on the JVM which is set to arrive in Java 8.
It’s also possible to generate JavaScript client code from existing
Java REST services using Backbone.js.
Elsewhere, profiling Java applications on ARM systems such as the
Raspberry Pi is easier, falling in line with Oracle’s Java Embedded
push. JavaFX users can now use the FXML format as well.
The web development features introduced into the popular IDE represent the converging development world we now live in. It’s no longer possible to avoid the likes of HTML5 and JavaScript in application development, and Oracle’s decision to embrace them was inevitable, and should be greatly received.
You can check out all that’s new within NetBeans 7.3. Also worth looking at is Geertjan Wielenga’s piece ‘From database to RESTful web service to HTML5 in 10 minutes’’, showing you how to get up and running. NetBeans 7.3 is available to download for Windows, Mac OS X and Linux.