Apache NetBeans vs BlueJ
Apache NetBeans
netbeans.apache.orgBlueJ
bluej.orgSide by side
| Figure | Apache NetBeans | BlueJ |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | Free | Free |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Free trial | — | — |
| Open source | — | — |
| Windows | Yes | Yes |
| macOS | Yes | Yes |
| Linux | Yes | Yes |
| Plans published | 1 | 1 |
| Spec score · Java IDEs | 8.3 (#4) | 8.2 (#5) |
| Spec score · Integrated Development Environments | 8.3 (#12) | 8.1 (#23) |
| Spec score · IDE Software | 8.3 (#13) | 8.2 (#17) |
| Spec score · Integrated Development Environment Ide Software | 8.3 (#11) | 8.2 (#16) |
| Founded | 1996 | 1999 |
| Languages | It provides editors, wizards, and templates for Java, PHP, and other languages. | BlueJ 6.0.0 added Kotlin editing and execution, while the release notes say some Kotlin features, such as code completion, are not yet supported. |
| Project history | Oracle donated NetBeans source code to the Apache Software Foundation in 2016, and Apache NetBeans became a top-level Apache project in April 2019. | The about page says BlueJ was first released in 1999 and that its team works in the Computing Education Research Group at the University of Kent. |
Plans
In their own words
Apache NetBeans
Apache NetBeans is a development environment, tooling platform, and application framework for Linux, macOS, and Windows. Its editor highlights code by syntax and meaning and supports refactoring. Editors, wizards, and templates cover Java, PHP, and other languages, with plugins and linked support for JavaFX and JavaScript. The NetBeans Platform is a modular framework for Swing applications, with state saving, menus, toolbars, keyboard shortcuts, and window management. The IDE and Platform are free for commercial and non-commercial use under the Apache License; the listed plan is free. Apache NetBeans 31, dated August 10, 2026, supports running on JDK 26, 25, or 21, with initial support for JDK 27. Downloads include platform-independent binary and source ZIPs, plus linked installers for Windows, macOS, and Linux. Those installers are provided by committers for convenience, not as Apache Software Foundation releases. The release page provides SHA-512 hashes and PGP signatures. Windows/ARM is not fully supported, and older releases are no longer supported.
BlueJ
BlueJ is a free development environment for building Java programs, designed for beginners and teaching. It runs on Windows, macOS and Linux, with current downloads requiring a 64-bit operating system. Its interactive tools let users create and inspect objects, call methods, and evaluate Java expressions without compiling. In the editor, scope highlighting distinguishes code blocks and can help reveal misplaced curly brackets. BlueJ 6.0.0 added Kotlin editing and execution, though some Kotlin features, including code completion, are not supported. Documentation includes a Git teamwork tutorial for BlueJ 4 and later. Third parties can add functionality through an extensions API; the listed extensions page covers BlueJ 4 and older, while BlueJ 5.0.0 rewrote the API. The free Blueroom site offers teaching resources for educators. BlueJ directs software questions to its FAQ, technical support contact and bug database, and says it aims to respond to technical support requests within one working day.