IntelliJ Answer from HumptyDumptyFellHard on reddit.com
Reddit
reddit.com › r/learnjava › what's the best java ide to use for beginners?
r/learnjava on Reddit: What's The Best Java IDE To Use For Beginners?
April 18, 2020 -
What's the difference between using an IDE like Eclipse and using a text editor like Atom when making Java programs?
Does the IDE make it easier in any way? Does it pinpoint flaws in your program and tell you why something might not be working the way its supposed to? Why do people even choose to use IDEs as opposed to using text editors?
I'm new to Java, got a background in Javascript. I'm finding Java really difficult because even the smallest errors will lead to 100 other errors and the error messages you get in the compiler are very hard to interpret and figure out.
Would I benefit from using a IDE?
Top answer 1 of 23
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IntelliJ
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Seriously, just use IntelliJ. The fear of it being a crutch is nonsense, IMHO. I learned Java using emacs with maybe some basic syntax highlighting. If I could go back and give myself IntelliJ, I would in a heartbeat. I’d be just as good a developer, and probably wouldn’t have had to deal with RSI.
Top answer 1 of 3
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I recommend following 2 based on your requirements. Both support syntax-highlighting and allow to compile & run from the graphical User-Interface. Of course like Java itself they are free open source software and platform independent.
BlueJ
An IDE designed exclusively for learning Java is BlueJ
BlueJ is an integrated development environment for the Java programming language, developed mainly for educational purposes, but also suitable for small-scale software development. It runs with the help of JDK. BlueJ was developed to support the learning and teaching of object-oriented programming, and its design differs from other development environments as a result. The main screen graphically shows the class structure of an application under development, and objects can be interactively created and tested. This interaction facility, combined with a clean, simple user interface, allows easy experimentation with objects under development. Object-oriented concepts are represented visually and in its interaction design in the interface.
DrJava
A lightweight Java IDE is DrJava
DrJava is a lightweight IDE for the Java programming language. Designed primarily for beginners and actively developed and maintained by the JavaPLT group at Rice University, its interface uses Sun Microsystems' Swing toolkit and therefore has a consistent appearance on different platforms.
Other Java IDEs
For the beginner's purpose of learning Java I would not recommend a fully fledged Java IDE. Because most of them bring along distraction; e.g., project support (Maven/Gradle, Git, refactoring, etc.) you probably wouldn't need at the beginning.
Although find a full Comparison of Java IDEs at Wikipedia.
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I would recommend NetBeans, which was an official Java IDE provided by Oracle.
What's The Best Java IDE To Use For Beginners?
IntelliJ More on reddit.com
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April 18, 2020Good IDE for learning Java
IntelliJ, hands down. No questions needed. More on reddit.com
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July 2, 2021Best java IDE to use
The best IDE is the one you are comfortable using. More on reddit.com
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May 17, 2020What is the best IDE to use for learning JAVA?
Intelij is very popular on programming subreddits. The community version is free with only minor limitations. If you want a version that is free for any use and without limitations of that kind you could also use Eclipse, which is also used a lot, by hobbyists and professionals. Here is a general statistic from stack overflow when it comes to IDE, this is not specific to Java devs. https://insights.stackoverflow.com/survey/2018/#technology-most-popular-development-environments More on reddit.com
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November 23, 2017What is a Java IDE?
An integrated development environment, or IDE, is a software program that developers use to write and debug code more easily. Java IDEs can increase productivity by combining capabilities such as editing, building and testing within a single application.
jrebel.com
jrebel.com › blog › best-java-ide
Most Popular Java IDEs in 2025 | JRebel by Perforce
What are the Most Popular Java IDEs of 2025?
According to the 2025 Java Developer Productivity Report, 84% of respondents use are using IntelliJ IDEA, VS Code (aka Microsoft Visual Studio Code) overtook the second
jrebel.com
jrebel.com › blog › best-java-ide
Most Popular Java IDEs in 2025 | JRebel by Perforce
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JRebel
jrebel.com › blog › best-java-ide
Most Popular Java IDEs in 2025 | JRebel by Perforce
March 11, 2025 - Developers who want to develop natively with Maven will want to strongly consider NetBeans. It’s slightly easier to use than Eclipse, so it’s also a good choice for beginner developers who don’t have the budget for IntelliJ IDEA...
Educative
educative.io › blog › best-java-ides-2021
Top 10 best Java IDEs for 2025
JCreator is a powerful and lightweight Java IDE written in C++, which makes it faster than other Java IDEs. It has an interface similar to that of Microsoft’s Visual Studio making source code navigation easier. JCreator can handle various JDK profiles for multiple projects and offers strong API guidelines for developers. It’s a great option for beginners because of its intuitive user interface.
BairesDev
bairesdev.com › home › blog › technology
8 Best Java IDEs & Text Editors
October 7, 2025 - IntelliJ IDEA is a top IDE for both Java and Kotlin development, allowing you to produce robust code across platforms including Windows, macOS, and Linux. The popular platform improves productivity thanks to many features, such as code completion, ...
Sololearn
sololearn.com › en › Discuss › 589414 › what-is-the-best-java-ide-for-a-java-beginner-besides-eclipse
What is the best java IDE for a java beginner besides Eclipse? | Sololearn: Learn to code for FREE!
August 3, 2017 - It's made for beginners and has simpler functionality. Eclipse/IntelliJ IDEA/NetBeans are not for beginners to code. Once you know the basics very well, you can go for Eclipse or NetBeans.
Apidog
apidog.com › blog › best-free-ide-java
Best Free IDE for Java Beginners
August 21, 2025 - BlueJ is great for beginners, NetBeans for simplicity, Eclipse for reliability, IntelliJ IDEA Community Edition for professional features, Visual Studio Code for lightweight flexibility, jGRASP for visual learning, and Android Studio for mobile ...
Career Karma
careerkarma.com › blog › coding › java ide: what are the best ide for java beginners?
Java IDE: What Are the Best IDE for Java Beginners?
January 24, 2022 - BlueJ is a popular IDE among experienced Java developers. It is primarily intended for educational purposes and can be used for small-scale software development. It is completely free and the best option for beginner developers.
Quora
quora.com › I-just-started-learning-Java-What-IDE-can-a-beginner-like-me-use
I just started learning Java. What IDE can a beginner like me use? - Quora
Answer (1 of 41): Hello, Some of the best IDE’s are NetBeans, Eclipse and IntelliJ from JetBrains. NetBeans IDE: You could create Mobile, web and desktop applications with this IDE in Java, C++,PHP and many other languages.
Zencoder
zencoder.ai › home › top 5 free ides for beginner developers
Top 5 Free IDEs for Beginner Developers
November 6, 2025 - Developed by JetBrains, IntelliJ IDEA was released in 2001 and is known for its deep integration with the Java programming language. The Community Edition, a free version, focuses primarily on Java, Kotlin, and some web technologies.
Opensource.com
opensource.com › article › 20 › 7 › ide-java
5 open source IDE tools for Java | Opensource.com
Below, I introduce—in alphabetical order—my five favorite open source IDE tools to write Java and how to configure their basics. BlueJ provides an integrated educational Java development environment for Java beginners. It also aids in developing small-scale software using the Java Development ...
Primepointinstitute
primepointinstitute.com › top-5-java-ides-for-beginners
Top 5 Java IDEs for Beginners by Prime Point
February 14, 2025 - IntelliJ IDEA and Eclipse are powerful and feature-rich, making them suitable for both beginners and professionals. On the other hand, BlueJ and JGrasp focus more on teaching programming concepts and visualization.
JetBrains
jetbrains.com › idea
The Leading IDE for Professional Java and Kotlin Development
June 1, 2021 - IntelliJ IDEA is the JetBrains IDE for pro development in Java and Kotlin. Built for your comfort, it unlocks productivity, ensures quality code, supports cutting-edge tech, and protects your privacy.
Facebook
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Which IDE is best for Java beginners?
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GeeksforGeeks
geeksforgeeks.org › java › best-java-ide-for-developers
Java IDEs For Developers - GeeksforGeeks
JCreator is a lightweight, fast IDE written in C++, offering a snappy experience ideal for smaller Java projects. Efficient performance and small footprint. Code completion and syntax highlighting. Debugger and project management tools. Best For: Beginners and developers seeking a minimal, fast IDE.
Published October 10, 2025
Tutorial Works
tutorialworks.com › java-ide
Java IDEs: The Definitive Guide (and Top Picks) - Tutorial Works
December 20, 2024 - If you don’t want a full-blown IDE, but you want to be able to write Java code, then there is a decent alternative to IntelliJ IDEA, which comes in second place overall: It’s Visual Studio Code with the Java Extension Pack.
W3Schools
w3schools.com › java › java_compiler.asp
Java Online Compiler (Editor / Interpreter)
Practice is key to mastering coding, and the best way to put your Java knowledge into practice is by getting practical with code. Use W3Schools Spaces to build, test and deploy code. The code editor lets you write and practice different types of computer languages. It includes Java, but you can use it for other languages too.
Coderanch
coderanch.com › t › 715777 › java › IDE-Java
Best IDE for Java (Beginning Java forum at Coderanch)
September 3, 2019 - Personally I think Intellij is the top of the Java IDE pile. Even the free 'Community Edition' is a great IDE and includes a set of refactor tools that are brilliant. You'll probably not use any of those refactor tools for a long time but when you do you'll see what I mean. Tim Driven Development | Test until the fear goes away ... Tim Cooke wrote:. . . no IDE at all. Tim is right. Until you are confident at setting the CLASSPATH via the command line, avoid IDEs. I think, the only beginners who should use IDEs are people whose spelling is verry bbad; you can use the spellcheck and autocomplete features of the IDE to correct your spellings.
IDRSolutions
blog.idrsolutions.com › home › the top 11 free ide for java coding, development & programming
The top 11 Free IDE for Java Coding, Development & Programming
October 15, 2024 - Best of all you can download Netbeans in different bundles to suit your needs. I recommend you giving this IDE a try to see if it suits your needs. Netbeans runs even on 1gb RAM. Alex your Article is really helpful and interesting, for new beginners more over I like your quick reply and response.
Skillcraft
skillcraft.ai › post › best-java-ide-for-beginners
Best Java IDE for Beginners: Skip the 2000s Tools and Start Here
October 12, 2025 - The official IntelliJ documentation at jetbrains.com/help/idea is clear and beginner-friendly. For Java itself, Oracle's official Java tutorials and the Java documentation are your best resources.