NetBeans 6.1 Beta now available

Good news for the NetBeans lovers is that NetBeans 6.1 Beta is now available for download at http://download.netbeans.org/netbeans/6.1/beta.

The most interesting portion for me is the startup time and its has come a long way on that. The other notable features for me from a developers stand point are

• MySQL support in Database Explorer
  
• From documenting the code perspective Javadoc code completion is good
  
• JSF 'CURD' Generator is back because of Popular demand
• Update center modules for AXIS and SOAP UI
  

The availability of the following plugins makes NetBeans the leader in the RIA+SOA era

• Visual Web Pack
  
• the support for server side scripting with Project Phobos plugin
  
• SOA Enerrpise pack with
  
• BPEL editing and debugging
  
• WSDL Editor with WSDL extensions for file/ftp/jdbc/sap etc.
• XSD support
• JAX-WS plugin making the development of Java based webservices easy
  
• Integration with Sun's enterprise application server Glassfish + Open - ESB
  

I guess Eclipse is also catching up with the RIA+SOA world but NetBeans
still has a say there with its editors and BPEL Debugger etc.

Having said tht I feel that one thing that is not so good in NetBeans for making it 'The only IDE
you need!' is the debugger. I see that its the 'vulnerable' place in NetBeans where Eclipse still holds it.

The following things make Eclipse Debugger more attractive

• Ease of use - even naive user can debug
  
• Multi thread debugging
• Feasibility to attach the source
• Does not break when there is no source is available rather it does a 'jad' or 'javap' for you and gives the possible structure of the source file
  
• If we give the project references it can locate the source file for you.