Thread: Trying to follow tutorial. Embarrassingly stuck.

Hi guys, I'm just starting to learn java so I've been looking around for good tutorials. Right now I'm on this one Developing General Java Applications - NetBeans IDE Tutorial

on the Debugging the Application section.

Every time I try to hit Run Project I get the <No Main Class Found> error.

Here is my code.

/*
 * To change this template, choose Tools | Templates
 * and open the template in the editor.
 */
package org.me.mylib;
 
/**
 *
 * @author One
 */
public class LibClass {
    public static String acrostic(String[] args) {
        StringBuffer b = new StringBuffer();
        for (int i = 0; i < args.length; i++) {
            if (args[i].length() > i) {
                b.append(args[i].charAt(i));
            } else {
                b.append('?');
            }
        }
        return b.toString();
    }
}

I've been trying to look at other code and I'm pretty sure my code needs a

public static void main(String[] args)

in there somewhere but I can't figure out how to mix that in with the Acrostic piece that the tutorial says should go there.

I feel like there must be a really simple solution and maybe I missed something?

Any help would be great, I feel really dull right now.

I just checked and it looks like I did that step. My Main.java file looks like this

package acrostic;
 
import org.me.mylib.LibClass;
 
/**
 *
 * @author One
 */
public class Main {
 
    /**
     * @param args the command line arguments
     */
    public static void main(String[] args) {
        String result = LibClass.acrostic(args);
        System.out.println("Result = " + result);
    }
}

Looking at it more I thought I found the solution because in the properties of the MyApp project the main class is set to acrostic.Main and that runs fine when I run it so I went to the MyLib project where LibClass and set it's main class to acrostic.Main but that doesn't work either.

I'm starting to get the feeling I'm more confused with the IDE than actual java itself.

I didn't even know that was possible. I haven't seen any tutorials that don't use an IDE.

Originally Posted by helloworld922

It's very possible you are. I know there are several people who advocate learning to program without using an IDE first, then deciding later if you want to switch to an IDE or not. There's a post somewhere around here explaining in greater detail why, unfortunately I can't find it right now

This idea is quite dated, and should really be replaced with a line that says "you should be familiar with using the console to program and compile".

So get to know the console for a day and then switch to Eclipse or Netbeans.

An IDE will really help in the early stages of learning to program because it prompts you when there's an error and reinforces style etc. Of course it can get things wrong, but there really is no point in struggling just because your forbears did. ;-)