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Netbeans VS Android Studio

Compare Netbeans VS Android Studio and see what are their differences

Netbeans logo Netbeans

NetBeans IDE 7.0. Develop desktop, mobile and web applications with Java, PHP, C/C++ and more. Runs on Windows, Linux, Mac OS X and Solaris. NetBeans IDE is open-source and free.

Android Studio logo Android Studio

Android development environment based on IntelliJ IDEA
  • Netbeans Landing page
    Landing page //
    2022-07-13
  • Android Studio Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-10-21

Netbeans features and specs

  • Open Source
    NetBeans is an open-source Integrated Development Environment (IDE), which means it is free to use and has a large community for support and contributions.
  • Modular Architecture
    Its modular architecture allows users to add or remove features easily, which provides flexibility to customize the IDE as per the developer's requirements.
  • Multi-Language Support
    NetBeans supports multiple programming languages such as Java, PHP, HTML5, JavaScript, and more, making it a versatile tool for developers working in different technologies.
  • Strong Java Support
    Originally developed for Java, it provides excellent support for Java development, including Maven and Ant integration, robust debugging tools, and pre-configured templates.
  • User-Friendly Interface
    The IDE boasts an intuitive and user-friendly interface, which helps improve development speed and reduces the learning curve for new users.
  • Rich Set of Features
    NetBeans offers many built-in features like code templates, project management tools, version control integration, and support for various application servers.
  • Cross-Platform Compatibility
    NetBeans can run on various operating systems, including Windows, macOS, and Linux, therefore accommodating a diverse range of development environments.

Possible disadvantages of Netbeans

  • Performance Issues
    Some users experience lagging and slow performance, particularly when dealing with large projects or running on lower-end hardware.
  • Resource Intensive
    NetBeans can be resource-intensive, requiring significant memory and processing power, which may be a limitation for some developers, especially those on older machines.
  • Plugin Ecosystem
    While NetBeans has a good set of built-in features, its plugin ecosystem is not as extensive or actively maintained as some other IDEs like IntelliJ IDEA or Visual Studio Code.
  • Steeper Learning Curve for Non-Java Languages
    Although NetBeans supports multiple languages, the learning curve can be steeper when using it for non-Java languages compared to other IDEs that may offer better out-of-the-box support.
  • Updates and Community
    Since transitioning to Apache, the frequency of updates and the overall maintenance has seen slowdowns, which might affect the availability of the latest features and bug fixes.
  • UI Responsiveness
    Some users have reported that the UI can sometimes become unresponsive, especially during heavy development tasks or when multiple extensions are enabled.

Android Studio features and specs

  • Comprehensive Development Environment
    Android Studio offers a complete suite of tools for developing Android apps, including a code editor, debugger, and emulators, which help streamline the development process.
  • Rich Features
    Features like code completion, syntax highlighting, and refactoring tools make writing and maintaining code easier and more efficient.
  • Integrated Emulator
    The built-in emulator allows developers to test their applications on various device configurations without needing physical devices.
  • Official Support
    Being the official IDE from Google, Android Studio has strong community and official support, ensuring timely updates and bug fixes.
  • Cross-Platform Development
    Supports cross-platform development with plugins like Flutter, allowing for the creation of apps on both Android and iOS.
  • Strong Version Control Integration
    Supports integrated version control systems like Git, making it easier to collaborate and manage source code.

Possible disadvantages of Android Studio

  • Heavy Resource Usage
    Android Studio can be resource-intensive, requiring a significant amount of RAM and CPU, which can slow down less powerful machines.
  • Steep Learning Curve
    The range of features and complexity of the IDE can be overwhelming for beginners, requiring time to learn and master.
  • Startup Time
    Android Studio has a relatively slow startup time compared to other lightweight IDEs, affecting productivity for quick tasks.
  • Occasional Stability Issues
    Users sometimes experience crashes or performance issues, especially when using multiple plugins or working on large projects.
  • Large Disk Space Requirement
    The IDE itself and its associated components (like SDKs, emulators) require a considerable amount of disk space.
  • Frequent Updates
    While updates can bring new features and bug fixes, they can also disrupt workflows and introduce new issues if not managed properly.

Netbeans videos

A Review of the NetBeans Project from Geertjan Wielenga

More videos:

  • Tutorial - How to Install & Beautify NetBeans IDE for PHP on Windows

Android Studio videos

Introduction to Android Studio

More videos:

  • Review - Xamarin (Visual Studio) vs Android Studio and Kotlin

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Netbeans and Android Studio)
Text Editors
55 55%
45% 45
IDE
42 42%
58% 58
Developer Tools
0 0%
100% 100
Software Development
100 100%
0% 0

User comments

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Reviews

These are some of the external sources and on-site user reviews we've used to compare Netbeans and Android Studio

Netbeans Reviews

The Best IDEs for Java Development: A Comparative Analysis
User Satisfaction: With a user rating of 4.1 out of 5 and user satisfaction of 82%, NetBeans offers a solid development experience.
Source: dev.to
9 Of The Best Android Studio Alternatives To Try Out
NetBeans IDE helps you build HTML5 applications, web applications, Java desktop applications, and mobile applications. If you are a PHP or C++ developer, it offers you great tools. NetBeans IDE has a large number of developers and users all across the globe.
What's The Best C++ IDE? Our Top C++ IDEs & Editors In 2024
Rounding out my list at number ten is NetBeans, a free and open-source integrated development environment. While often thought of as Java IDE, NetBeans also offers robust support for C++ and is favored by developers seeking a comprehensive toolset for larger and more complex projects.
Source: hackr.io
Top 10 Visual Studio Alternatives
NetBeans is another code editor and an alternative to Visual Studio Microsoft. It is regarded as an integrated development environment for Java. Here, the users can develop applications. The development of the applications is from a set of integrated software components that are named modules. NetBeans are operative on Windows, macOS, Linux, and Solaris.
Best Eclipse Alternatives to Use
NetBeans IDE is a free Java Integrated Development Environment (IDE) that enables developers to create, run, debug, and deploy Java applications on all platforms at no cost. The rest of the code is available under the NetBeans Common Public License.
Source: eclipsewin.com

Android Studio Reviews

Explore 9 Top Eclipse Alternatives for 2024
Meet Android Studio, the official Integrated Development Environment (IDE) for masterful Android app development. Based on the IntelliJ IDEA, this prime application development platform comes packed with a versatile Gradle-based build system, lightning-fast emulator, and vast device compatibility.
Source: aircada.com
Best Emulator for Low End PC
Android Studio is the best emulator for developing Android apps like a pro. Even if you’re a complete beginner, they offer training courses that make the whole process super easy. You can test your Android app on responsive layouts and use Build Analyzer to fix any performance issues within your app. Android Studio’s unique features include Wear Devices: Pair multiple watch...
Source: cloudzy.com
Top 10 Android Studio Alternatives For App Development
Android Studio is an IDE that is Android Studio which is an environment for integrated development of the software. But sometimes the requirement is unique which takes either the compiled methods to use Android studio which not only consumes time but is hard to understand as well. So developers look for some alternative to Android Studio to create that specific feature.
16 Best Android Emulators For PCs In 2023
Android Studio has a built-in emulator but packs fewer features in comparison to tools like Genymotion. The emulator is unquestionably not for general usage and playing heavy games. Android Studio is tough to set up but simultaneously favorite of many developers.
Source: theqalead.com
THE BEST 34 APP DEVELOPMENT SOFTWARE IN 2022 LIST
Android Studio is the official IDE for Android app development, based on IntelliJ IDEA. On top of IntelliJ’s powerful code editor and developer tools, Android Studio offers even more features that enhance your productivity when building Android apps.

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, Android Studio should be more popular than Netbeans. It has been mentiond 169 times since March 2021. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

Netbeans mentions (17)

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Android Studio mentions (169)

  • complete beginner-friendly step-by-step guide to installing and running a React Native
    1. Download from: https://developer.android.com/studio. - Source: dev.to / 3 days ago
  • A Practical guide to building cross-platform apps with Angular, Ionic, Capacitor, and Nx
    Download and install Android Studio to emulate or deploy your app on Android devices. - Source: dev.to / 5 months ago
  • Top 10 Essential Tools for Android Development
    Android Studio is the official **Integrated Development Environment** (IDE) for Android app development. It has an easy-to-use interface, strong tools, and good support from Google. It’s ideal for building, testing, and debugging Android applications. - Source: dev.to / 6 months ago
  • Setting Up Your React Native Development Environment
    Visit the Android Studio website and download the installer. - Source: dev.to / 7 months ago
  • Flutter Monitoring Tools for Your App
    Android Studio is one of the best Flutter monitoring tools. It is an integrated development environment (IDE) that is widely used for creating Android applications. It is officially used for Google’s Android platform. Android SDKs, Android Emulator, and Android Virtual Devices (AVDs) are all supported on Android Studio. - Source: dev.to / 7 months ago
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What are some alternatives?

When comparing Netbeans and Android Studio, you can also consider the following products

Microsoft Visual Studio - Microsoft Visual Studio is an integrated development environment (IDE) from Microsoft.

Xcode - Xcode is Apple’s powerful integrated development environment for creating great apps for Mac, iPhone, and iPad. Xcode 4 includes the Xcode IDE, instruments, iOS Simulator, and the latest Mac OS X and iOS SDKs.

IntelliJ IDEA - Capable and Ergonomic IDE for JVM

Sublime Text - Sublime Text is a sophisticated text editor for code, html and prose - any kind of text file. You'll love the slick user interface and extraordinary features. Fully customizable with macros, and syntax highlighting for most major languages.

VS Code - Build and debug modern web and cloud applications, by Microsoft

Eclipse - Eclipse is an open source community, whose projects are focused on building an open development platform comprised of extensible frameworks, tools and runtimes for building, deploying and managing software across the lifecycle.