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Netbeans VS phpDesigner

Compare Netbeans VS phpDesigner 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.

phpDesigner logo phpDesigner

Powerful PHP IDE and PHP editor with built-in HTML, CSS and JavaScript editor. Fast. Powerful.
  • Netbeans Landing page
    Landing page //
    2022-07-13
  • phpDesigner Landing page
    Landing page //
    2018-09-29

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.

phpDesigner features and specs

  • Comprehensive PHP Support
    phpDesigner offers extensive support for PHP development, including built-in PHP debugging and syntax highlighting, which aids developers in efficiently writing and testing PHP code.
  • Integrated Development Environment
    It provides a full-featured IDE with a project manager, code intelligence, and support for various programming languages, allowing developers to work on complex projects within a single platform.
  • User-Friendly Interface
    The software comes with a clean, intuitive interface that is easy to navigate, making it accessible for both beginners and experienced developers to streamline their workflow.
  • Powerful Code Editor
    The code editor in phpDesigner is powerful, featuring extensive customization options, support for code snippets, and real-time error detection, enhancing code accuracy and efficiency.
  • Cross-Platform Compatibility
    phpDesigner is compatible with multiple operating systems, including Windows, which allows developers to use the tool across different platforms without compatibility issues.

Possible disadvantages of phpDesigner

  • Limited Updates
    The software has not seen frequent updates compared to some other modern IDEs, potentially lacking the latest features and optimizations present in newer competitors.
  • Windows Focused
    While it offers cross-platform capabilities, phpDesigner's primary focus on Windows may lead to less optimized performance or a lack of support for MacOS and Linux environments.
  • Requires Learning Curve
    For users new to integrated development environments, particularly those specific to PHP, there might be a significant learning curve to fully utilize all the features phpDesigner offers.
  • Commercial License Cost
    phpDesigner is not free software; it requires purchasing a commercial license, which could be a downside for individual developers or small companies seeking cost-free solutions.
  • Lacks Modern Collaboration Tools
    The IDE may not include modern collaborative features like real-time code sharing and cloud-based project management, which are becoming increasingly important for team-based development.

Analysis of Netbeans

Overall verdict

  • NetBeans is a good choice for developers who need a comprehensive and flexible IDE, particularly for Java development. Its open-source nature and active community make it a reliable option for both beginners and experienced developers.

Why this product is good

  • NetBeans is a versatile and robust Integrated Development Environment (IDE) that supports multiple languages such as Java, JavaScript, PHP, and more. It offers a range of features including code editing, debugging, and project management tools. It's open-source, providing flexibility and an active community for support. Additionally, NetBeans integrates seamlessly with other tools and platforms, enhancing its utility for developers.

Recommended for

    Java developers, web developers using HTML5, JavaScript, or PHP, beginner programmers looking for a free and powerful IDE, and developers who prefer an open-source environment.

Netbeans videos

A Review of the NetBeans Project from Geertjan Wielenga

More videos:

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

phpDesigner videos

phpDesigner Overview

More videos:

  • Review - phpDesigner 7 & 8 remove annoying Code tip
  • Review - تثبيت وتفعيل برنامج phpDesigner 8

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Netbeans and phpDesigner)
Text Editors
91 91%
9% 9
IDE
95 95%
5% 5
Software Development
100 100%
0% 0
Web Development Tools
0 0%
100% 100

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 phpDesigner

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

phpDesigner Reviews

We have no reviews of phpDesigner yet.
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Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, Netbeans seems to be more popular. It has been mentiond 17 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)

View more

phpDesigner mentions (0)

We have not tracked any mentions of phpDesigner yet. Tracking of phpDesigner recommendations started around Mar 2021.

What are some alternatives?

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

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

Adobe Dreamweaver - Adobe Dreamweaver is a proprietary web development tool developed by Adobe Systems.

IntelliJ IDEA - Capable and Ergonomic IDE for JVM

PhpStorm - Professional IDE for PHP and Web Developers

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.

Pinegrow - A professional visual editor for Bootstrap 4 and 3, Foundation, responsive design, HTML, and CSS. Convert HTML to WordPress themes.