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One can add support for other programming languages to Apache NetBeans using its Rich Client Platform API. 

Support to a programming language can be considered complete when it provides support for

Adding a support for a new language may consist of several parts, and may be time consuming.

The following parts of a new language support should be considered:

  1. File type recognition

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  2. Project type

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  2. Semantic syntax highlighting and braces matching
  3. Code completion
  4. Navigation (jump to definition, peek definition, find all references, symbol search)
  5. Types and documentation on hover
  6. Code formatting
  7. Configuration

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  2. Refactoring (e.g.

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  1. rename, move)
  2. Error squiggles and apply suggestions from errors
  3. Debugging
  4. Snippets
  5. Build tasks

There are a number of ways to add support for a programming language, each one of them having its pros and cons. Historically, these areMost of the above are commonly supported by Apache NetBeans' Rich Client Platform APIs, but for some of them, different APIs have been developed that support one of the following technologies:

  • JavaCC is the old wayANTLR is the modern way, but it is not easy to keep the many languages up-to-date; there are a number of tutorials on how to create a NB plugin using ANTLR, many outdated, with the best one in the Apache NetBeans book to add a plugin for blockchain support. ANTLR4 grammars.
  • LSP seems to be gaining ground and seems to become the new way. This tutorial is an LSP Client demo to provide support for the (ba)sh language. A list of Textmate syntaxes.

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How to add support in NetBeans to a programming language?

First, you will need Apache NetBeans source code. Please download or clone it from here and build it.

1. File Type Recognition

The first thing to do is for NetBeans to be able to recognize the file type. E.g. if you are adding support for the kotlin programming language you would like NetBeans editor to be able to recognize .kt source files.

Use the New File → Module Development → File Typewizard. A MIME type must be specified. This MIME type will be the key under which other services will be looked up.

See the File Type Integration Tutorial for more details on how to add File Type recognition support. A DataObject file will be created with a number of annotations.

Important Note! Make sure to create your module inside your cloned Apache NetBeans source code. Your module will need some files from nbbuild folder.

Take a look at java/kotlin.editor/src/org/netbeans/modules/kotlin/editor/KtDataObject.java and rust/rust.sources/src/org/netbeans/modules/rust/sources/rs/RustFileDataObject.java as examples of DataObjects.

Hint! To open a source file easily, click on Window → Favorites and navigate to the source file (e.g. a .kt file if you are adding support for kotlin, or a .

Adding Syntax Highlighting

Syntax highlighting can be implemented either by writing a lexer module for NetBeans, or by re-using TextMate grammars. Please see the use cases and an example grammar registration for the latter.

Formatting

Adding Code Completion and Other Editor Features

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rs source file for Rust)

2. Custom project types

You may want to create a new "Project Type" for your specific language. More explicitly, when you click on File → New Project, you can customize the New Project wizard dialog to create a new project for your language. For instance, "Rust" projects usually have a folder structure defined by the "cargo" tool. rust/rust.project.api module allows the user to create a new cargo project.

The NetBeans Project Type Tutorial is a good starting point.

3. Semantic Syntax highlighting and brace matching

Without syntax highlighting, NetBeans opens the source file as a text file. Each technology uses different ways to support syntax highlighting:

4. Code Completion

5. Navigation

Navigation includes: jump to definition, peek definition, find all references, symbol search etc.

6. Types and documentation on hover

7. Code formatting

8. Configuration

NetBeans IDE provides the Options window (menu Tools → Options or NetBeans → Preferences on MacOS) that allows the user to customize it. You can provide any customizations for your language support in the Options window, too. E.g. you could allow the user to provide the path to the Kotlin compiler. See e.g. rust/rust.cargo module that allows the user to provide the path to cargo for Rust projects.

The NetBeans Options Window Module Tutorial explains how you could do that.

9. Refactoring

Refactorings like e.g. rename, move are supported by all major IDEs.

10. Error squiggles and apply suggestions from errors

11. Debugging

12. Snippets

13. Build tasks

Resources

NetBeans Specific Resources

Other resources

  1. Clinton J.L. (2021), Build Your Own Programming Language, Packt.
  2. Nadeeshaan G. & Nipuna M. (2022), Language Server Protocol and Implementation: Supporting Language-Smart Editing and Programming Tools, APress.
  3. Parr T. (2010), Language Implementation Patterns, The Pragmatic Programmer.
  4. Stalla A. (2021a), "Converting from JavaCC to ANTLR", Strumenta.
  5. Stalla A. (2021b), "Go to Definition in the Language Server Protocol", Strumenta.
  6. Singh V., Basics of Compiler Design, Anniversary Edition.
  7. Tomassetti G., "The ANTLR Mega Tutorial", Strumenta.
  8. Watt D.A. & Brown D. F. (2000), Programming Language Processors in Java, Prentice Hall.