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Netbeans VS Spacemacs

Compare Netbeans VS Spacemacs 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.

Spacemacs logo Spacemacs

Community-driven Emacs distribution that meshes Emacs and Vim features.
  • Netbeans Landing page
    Landing page //
    2022-07-13
  • Spacemacs Landing page
    Landing page //
    2019-04-26

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.

Spacemacs features and specs

  • Customizability
    Spacemacs is highly customizable, leveraging the power of Emacs and Vim. Users can tailor their development environment to exactly fit their workflow.
  • Community-driven
    Spacemacs benefits from a strong, active community. Users have access to a wealth of shared configurations, extensions, and advice.
  • Hybrid Model
    Combines the best features of Emacs and Vim, allowing users to switch easily between editing styles and take advantage of both systemsโ€™ strengths.
  • Ease of Setup
    Spacemacs provides an easy-to-use distribution of Emacs, simplifying the initial setup process and making it more accessible for newcomers.
  • Rich Documentation
    Spacemacs comes with extensive documentation, both official and user-generated, which makes it easier to learn and troubleshoot issues.

Possible disadvantages of Spacemacs

  • Steep Learning Curve
    Despite simplifying Emacs, Spacemacs can still be daunting for beginners, requiring time and effort to master.
  • Performance
    Spacemacs can be slow to start up and may lag with heavy configurations or large files, impacting overall performance.
  • Complexity
    The combination of Emacs and Vim features can add layers of complexity, potentially overwhelming users who may prefer a more straightforward tool.
  • Dependency on Emacs
    Users are still reliant on Emacs and its ecosystem, which might be a downside for those looking to avoid the intricacies of Emacs altogether.
  • Resource Intensive
    Compared to other editors, Spacemacs can be more resource-intensive, consuming more memory and CPU power.

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.

Analysis of Spacemacs

Overall verdict

  • Spacemacs is considered a strong editor choice for those comfortable with both Emacs and Vim. It excels particularly for users who appreciate the extensive possibilities for customization and the efficiency of a mnemonic keybinding system. However, mastering Spacemacs can require an initial learning curve.

Why this product is good

  • Spacemacs combines the extensibility and customization of Emacs with the efficiency and ergonomics of Vim, making it appealing to users from both editor families. It offers a rich set of features out of the box and has a large community contributing to its continual improvement. The unique spacemacs configuration layer system simplifies the customization of Emacs, which can traditionally be complex.<br>Most notably, Spacemacs provides a robust and versatile platform for developers who work with multiple programming languages and requires tools that can handle various aspects of software development in a fluid manner.

Recommended for

  • Developers with prior experience in Emacs or Vim.
  • Users who are interested in a highly customizable and extendable editor.
  • Programmers looking for an editor that supports multiple languages and dev tools in one platform.
  • People interested in the power of both Vim's modal editing and Emacs' feature-rich ecosystem.

Netbeans videos

A Review of the NetBeans Project from Geertjan Wielenga

More videos:

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

Spacemacs videos

Spacemacs For Noobs

More videos:

  • Review - Can VSCode be a reasonable Spacemacs alternative? (VSpaceCode)
  • Review - EmacsCast 4 - Spacemacs vs Doom vs Emacs

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Netbeans and Spacemacs)
Text Editors
82 82%
18% 18
IDE
86 86%
14% 14
Software Development
85 85%
15% 15
Productivity
0 0%
100% 100

User comments

Share your experience with using Netbeans and Spacemacs. For example, how are they different and which one is better?
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Reviews

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

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

Spacemacs Reviews

Top 8 Sublime Text Alternatives You Can Use in 2019
Spacemacs uses the space bar as a default leader key, which is where the program gets its name from. The syntax highlighting feature on Spacemacs is enabled by default for all major programming languages, and it is configurable manually through configuration files as well as via internal commands. For all its positives, the program can be quite a bit glitchy at times. From...
Source: beebom.com

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, Netbeans should be more popular than Spacemacs. 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)

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Spacemacs mentions (6)

  • Our teacher only allows us to use VIM
    Show them spacemacs.org, github.com/doomemacs/doomemacs or at least spacevim.org. Source: about 3 years ago
  • Creating Haskell notebooks with org-mode
    Your Emacs will need some packages: org, org-babel and haskell-mode. If you use spacemacs it is enough to add these layers in your .spacemacs:. - Source: dev.to / about 4 years ago
  • Vim Users! Share your Clever Configs and Plugin Setups (or learn something new)๐Ÿ”ฅ
    Try https://spacemacs.org magit + org-mode are the big selling points. Magit especially for programming. Source: about 4 years ago
  • Emacs' org-mode gets citation support
    Aside from editing on mobile devices, I think Emacs isn't as hard to pick up as it once was. It's certainly not easy but tools like Spacemacs or Doom make it much simpler to get started and really limit the need to create and edit a complicated little library of your Elisp code. http://spacemacs.org https://github.com/hlissner/doom-emacs. - Source: Hacker News / about 4 years ago
  • A guide to create tmux like Custom Layouts in Spacemacs
    Coming from a vim world with tmux, I had really missed the multiple split window layout in Spacemacs. But after knowing how to define custom layouts this seemed to be an easy exercise for me. - Source: dev.to / over 4 years ago
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What are some alternatives?

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

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

GNU Emacs - GNU Emacs is an extensible, customizable text editorโ€”and more.

IntelliJ IDEA - Capable and Ergonomic IDE for JVM

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

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.

Vim - Highly configurable text editor built to enable efficient text editing