DrJava vs Greenfoot
DrJava
cs.rice.eduGreenfoot
greenfoot.orgSide by side
| Figure | DrJava | Greenfoot |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 7.8 (#11) | 8.0 (#8) |
| Founded | 2001 | 2006 |
| License | DrJava is released under a standard BSD open-source license. | The Greenfoot IDE source code is available under the GNU General Public Licence version 2 with classpath exception. |
| Purpose | DrJava is a lightweight development environment for writing Java programs, designed primarily for students. | Greenfoot is educational software designed to make learning programming easy and fun. |
| Support | Bug reports and feature requests require a SourceForge account login. | Technical support handles installation and operation problems by email; programming questions should go to the discussions area. |
Plans
In their own words
DrJava
DrJava is a free, open-source development environment for writing Java programs, designed primarily for students. Its intelligent editor supports coding, while the Interactions pane lets users evaluate Java code interactively. The environment includes JUnit testing, a source-level debugger and Javadoc generation for source files. It runs on Windows, macOS and Linux under a standard BSD open-source license. The current beta is compatible with Java 8, identified by the project page as the only supported version of traditional Java. That beta is distributed only as a JAR, which the page says is intended to reduce cross-platform compatibility issues. The Eclipse plugin is described as very old and compatible only with Eclipse versions from the same era. The Linux FAQ reports an incompatibility with the Compiz window manager and recommends disabling Compiz if it occurs. Bug reports and feature requests require a SourceForge account login. The Free plan costs nothing, with no free trial listed.
Greenfoot
Greenfoot is educational software for learning object-oriented programming with standard Java code. Learners build games, simulations, and other graphical programs by placing actors in worlds. The programming environment combines visualization and interaction tools with an IDE that includes project management, auto-completion, and syntax highlighting. Projects can be published online for others to play and comment on, and sharing is built into the environment. Greenfoot runs on Windows, macOS, and Linux; downloads cover Windows 10 and 11, macOS 11 and later, Ubuntu with Debian support, and a generic option for systems with JDK and JavaFX. From version 3.6.0, Intel/AMD systems need a 64-bit CPU and operating system; version 3.5.4 is the listed option for 32-bit support. The software is free, and its IDE source code is available under the GNU General Public Licence version 2 with classpath exception. Learning resources include written and video tutorials for beginners and advanced users, along with the Greenroom instructor community.