Most of my Javascript code is created in text editors. My preferred editor, Texmate, does a great job with snippets and syntax highlighting. Lately I’ve been trying NetBeans which has a background parser as well as the regular code folding and syntax highlighting features.
Some first impressions:
- The background parser is great. Having warnings appear when I leave a trailing comma in my object laterals saves me some IE pain.
- Unused variable declarations are also picked up
- Code hinting and autocomplete incorporates your own functions. Autocomplete inside string literals doesn’t, which I miss from Textmate.
- The interface, particular on the Mac, is clunky and slow compared to a native app.
- Writing code feels slower, but there’s less back and forth when testing in browsers.
More info:
- NetBeans Javascript Users Guide
- NetBeans 6.5 will have a debugger, too
- NetBeans Javascript editor screencast