Thread: Java Lightweight Tool/IDE

Searching for a Java Tool/IDE that is lightweight, easy to use (no frills really) that can assist in file management (organizing packages, backing up/rolling back), help out with interfacing with multiple editors (i.e. Eclipse, Netbeans, etc). Please chime in. To date I cant find anything like this.

I'm not surprised. Most of the things you describe as desirable features ARE the frills you say you don't want. Other times, it sounds like you want something like an online repository, GitHub maybe, but I'm entirely confused by your question.

Thank you for your input. I looked into GitHub and it really isn't what I had in mind. I need a very simplistic solution for backing up and rolling back packages (reverting a group of java files in my package group) back to an active state. Is there a basic tool for doing this, designed mainly with Java in mind? -- Not an application that is for all types of programs and programming languages, just Java.

Yes, like a versioning system that is stand alone and easy to use. Isn't Subversion mainly for large organizations with very large projects.

Thanks for your input. Ill do as you suggest.

I have now looked at Subversion, CVS and Git and all of these programs are way more than I want as far as sophistication, invasiveness, overhead, intrusiveness... I am seeking a simple Java tool that would allow the selection of a Java package, then allow me to back it up. Then if I make a mistake on my program, simply pick a backed-up package and roll it back. No frills, no high-level versioning, branching, trunking. architecturally speaking, I am just one programmer (not a large organization) so I don't have to consider that someone else will be needing to "checkout" a file that I need, therefore I don't need a program that monitors like a librarian or a Source Safe.

Two really excellent programmers have suggested version control software because it does exactly what you are describing. Please don't be intimidated by VCS, it isn't just for the big projects or organizations and it isn't as advanced as you think. At home I use Tortoise GIT and WinMerge. For larger projects I can't afford to loose I host the source on BitBucket.

When I start a new project I right click the folder and click "Git create repository here". When I've complete a chuck of code, or added a feature, or fixed a bug I right click and go "Git commit -> master" and add in a quick message as to what I was working on. That's all there is to it.

These two simple steps allow me to:

• Track changes made to the project over it's lifecycle with the log
• Undo changes made in a commit
• Roll back to a previous version
• View every single LOC changed with WinMerge (no setup required, they work together)
• Free, private or public offsite backups by creating a BitBucket repository and adding it to settings -> remote.
• If I use a BitBucket repository I can work from any computer.
• No useless copies of the source floating around adding confusion.

In fact, I am so smitten with this setup I don't just use it for programming. I use it for 3D models, photoshop .PSD files, word documents and even Minecraft saves (in case they get corrupted from all the mods I use).

There's no reason a single-person outfit can't or shouldn't use a source code repository like Git, Bitbucket, etc. In fact, if your livelihood, professional/student career, sanity, or security depends on the results of your programming, I can list many reasons why you should.

Use the features you need, ignore the ones you don't, grow into them as you discover new features you'd like to use. Avoiding the minimal effort to learn, use, and benefit from these valuable tools is just silly. And there's essentially no overhead. In fact, if you compare the resources required to do what these repositories do with what you'd have to do to maintain several versions in a complex file structure and note system to keep track of it all, you'll see the repositories are simpler and use less resources.

Thanks to everyone for your time and expertise. I am now inspired to do some more research on these applications. Thanks ChristopherLowe and GregBrannon for taking the time in laying out points of reason. This helps so much.