NetBeans is great
where an IDE is wanted -- which it isn't for Rails development.
Learn the API, then you won't need an IDE.
I don't really agree there: for environments where I *do* benefit from
IDEs (i.e. not Rails), code completion is not the major benefit.
Automating repetitive tasks (such as complex builds), switching between
related files, and Swing/Cocoa GUI construction are among the major
advantages of IDEs for me.
(Then again, that may be because I *do* learn the API in question...)
I don't really agree there: for environments where I *do* benefit from
IDEs (i.e. not Rails), code completion is not the major benefit.
Automating repetitive tasks (such as complex builds), switching between
related files,
C-x <arrow> to move to the next or previous buffer in Emacs. No IDE
required, just a keyboard.
and Swing/Cocoa GUI construction are among the major
advantages of IDEs for me.
(Then again, that may be because I *do* learn the API in question...)
It's been my experience programmers *cough* who require an IDE are
usually the most useless people to have on the team.
I'd take an Emacs loving, API-knowing coder over a "I need Netbeans
'cause I need code completion" wanna-be coder any day of the week.
Keeping system resource usage low isn't elitism, it's just being a
good computer scientist.
I'd rather use Emacs or Vim than waste half my machine's memory on
some bloated IDE, all because of laziness not wanting to learn the
API. Either you're a programmer who knows the API you're working
with, or you're punching a time clock.
I don't know what you are getting so excited about, no-one here will
disagree with you on needing to know the API inside out. That has
nothing to do with what sort of development environment each
individual is happiest using, which is purely a matter of personal
preference. I like jEdit, Marnen likes Komodo Edit, others like the
Netbeans environment, you like Emacs and Vim. So be it.
I've been working diligently to 'really try' to use MacVim for my
Rails stuff. For those using vim for Rails, I assume you are using
some flavor of FuzzyFinder... how do you get the results to look nice?
For example, if I want to look at new.haml.html files in multiple
directories but I just want to see the available ones by typing “new”
here is how it looks in fuzzyfinder:
That's the big problem I'm having with MacVim for Rails.. it just ends
up not polished enough. For example I'm using the following plugins:
rails plugin, NerdTree, FuzzyFinderTextMate, BufferWipe, and bufmru,
and things are just awkward sometimes. For example if I'm in the
NerdTree pane and I then opt to use FuzzyFinder to find a file, the
file will end up opening in the nerdtree window - not good. You have
to remember to switch back to your main window first before using
fuzzyfinder.
I might just stick to IDEA (ruby plugin - same thing as RubyMine). I
get excellent vim navigation plus a few other niceties (refactoring,
little hints you might have made a typo on a method call, etc), and
since I'm apparently not as low on RAM as some of you guys, I'm not
afraid to have it open:)
That's the big problem I'm having with MacVim for Rails.. it just ends
up not polished enough. For example I'm using the following plugins:
rails plugin, NerdTree, FuzzyFinderTextMate, BufferWipe, and bufmru,
and things are just awkward sometimes. For example if I'm in the
NerdTree pane and I then opt to use FuzzyFinder to find a file, the
file will end up opening in the nerdtree window - not good. You have
to remember to switch back to your main window first before using
fuzzyfinder.
