JCreator is a Java

Java (programming language)

Java is a programming language originally developed by James Gosling at Sun Microsystems and released in 1995 as a core component of Sun Microsystems' Java platform. The language derives much of its syntax from C and C++ but has a simpler object model and fewer low-level facilities...

 IDE

Integrated development environment

An integrated development environment is a software application that provides comprehensive facilities to computer programmers for software development...

 created by Xinox Software. Its interface is similar to that of Microsoft's Visual Studio. Because it is programmed entirely in C++

C++

C++ is a statically typed, free-form, multi-paradigm, compiled, general-purpose programming language. It is regarded as an intermediate-level language, as it comprises a combination of both high-level and low-level language features. It was developed by Bjarne Stroustrup starting in 1979 at Bell...

, (except the first version (0.1), which was Java-based http://www.jcreator.com/faq.htm#j ), Xinox Software has asserted that JCreator is faster than competing Java-based Java IDEs.

JCreator has three editions:

• Lite Edition (LE): freeware
  Freeware
  Freeware is computer software that is available for use at no cost or for an optional fee, but usually with one or more restricted usage rights. Freeware is in contrast to commercial software, which is typically sold for profit, but might be distributed for a business or commercial purpose in the...
  
  
• Pro Edition (Pro): shareware
  Shareware
  The term shareware is a proprietary software that is provided to users without payment on a trial basis and is often limited by any combination of functionality, availability, or convenience. Shareware is often offered as a download from an Internet website or as a compact disc included with a...
  
   that costs $89 after a 30-day trial.
• Lite-Pro Edition (LE-PRO)

JCreator is only available on the Windows Operating Systems. However, both the LE and Pro versions of JCreator run adequately on Linux

Linux

Linux is a Unix-like computer operating system assembled under the model of free and open source software development and distribution. The defining component of any Linux system is the Linux kernel, an operating system kernel first released October 5, 1991 by Linus Torvalds...

 (usings Wine

Wine (software)

Wine is a free software application that aims to allow computer programs written for Microsoft Windows to run on Unix-like operating systems. Wine also provides a software library, known as Winelib, against which developers can compile Windows applications to help port them to Unix-like...

). So far no Linux versions are planned for immediate release, but new components will be built for cross-compatibility in mind.http://www.jcreator.com/forums/index.php?s=c5c88def3f39470c1a08701d9bffd5fd&showtopic=202&view=findpost&p=3148

The feature set of the Pro version is comparable to that of other language aware IDEs with respect to project management and editing features, but lacks advanced features, such as automated refactoring

Refactoring

Code refactoring is "disciplined technique for restructuring an existing body of code, altering its internal structure without changing its external behavior", undertaken in order to improve some of the nonfunctional attributes of the software....

, support for common frameworks etc, which can be found in the dominant Java IDEs such as Eclipse

Eclipse (software)

Eclipse is a multi-language software development environment comprising an integrated development environment and an extensible plug-in system...

 and IntelliJ IDEA

IntelliJ IDEA

IntelliJ IDEA is a commercial Java IDE by JetBrains. It is often simply referred to as "IDEA" or "IntelliJ."-History:The first version of IntelliJ IDEA was released in January 2001, and at the time was the only available Java IDE with advanced code navigation and code refactoring capabilities...

. The free LE version further lacks some features, such as code completion, that are included with other free IDEs. Unlike the dominant Java IDEs today, JCreator also lacks the level of extensibility through third-party plugins that is common in popular Java IDEs.

Disadvantages

• Only available for the Windows operating system, although Wine
  Wine (software)
  Wine is a free software application that aims to allow computer programs written for Microsoft Windows to run on Unix-like operating systems. Wine also provides a software library, known as Winelib, against which developers can compile Windows applications to help port them to Unix-like...
  
   can be used to run JCreator on Linux
• When using the JDK Help feature, the default browser settings may not be honored when opening an external browser for the JDK documentation.
  • It will mostly open Internet Explorer
    Internet Explorer
    Windows Internet Explorer is a series of graphical web browsers developed by Microsoft and included as part of the Microsoft Windows line of operating systems, starting in 1995. It was first released as part of the add-on package Plus! for Windows 95 that year...
    
     and rarely a default browser not Internet Explorer.
• No option for temporary highlighting of files.
• XML highlighting disables itself with really long lines.
• Custom icons can only be made from 16 colors
  • There is a workaround by saving the bitmap
    Windows bitmap
    The BMP File Format, also known as Bitmap Image File or Device Independent Bitmap file format or simply a Bitmap, is a Raster graphics image file format used to store bitmap digital images, independently of the display device , especially on Microsoft Windows and OS/2 operating systems.The BMP...
    
     that stores the custom icons (UserImages.bmp) in a 24-bit format.
• The printer settings used for printouts are unreliable.

Features

• Custom color schemes
• Wrapping around of your existing projects
• Different JDK profiles can be used
• Quick code writing via project templates
• Easy project viewing with the class browser
• Debugging with an easy, intuitive interface. No command-line prompts necessary
• Wizards help you cut to the chase writing your project, quickly and easily
• Automatic Classpath
  Classpath (Java)
  Classpath is a parameter—set either on the command-line, or through an environment variable—that tells the Java Virtual Machine or the compiler where to look for user-defined classes and packages.-Overview and architecture:...
  
   configuration
• UI customization (similar to Microsoft Visual Studio)
• The run-time environment can run your application as an applet
  Applet
  In computing, an applet is any small application that performs one specific task that runs within the scope of a larger program, often as a plug-in. An applet typically also refers to Java applets, i.e., programs written in the Java programming language that are included in a web page...
  
  , in a JUnit environment or in a command-line window
• JCreator's IDE does not require a Java Runtime Environment to execute, which may make it faster than Java-based IDE's.

(derived from here)

Pro vs LE

Some of the features missing from the freeware edition (Version 3) include:

• Code Templates
• Ant Viewer
• Bean Properties
• Code Identifier tooltip
• Code Completion
• Code Parameter tooltip list
• Source Code Navigation
• Debugger
• JSP Tag and Scriplet Code Completion
• CVS
  Concurrent Versions System
  The Concurrent Versions System , also known as the Concurrent Versioning System, is a client-server free software revision control system in the field of software development. Version control system software keeps track of all work and all changes in a set of files, and allows several developers ...
  
  Supporthttp://jcreator.com/i/scr_checkoutw.gif

External links

• JCreator
• JCreator Community Forum
• JCreator download page
• Feature list