The document compares the Eclipse and NetBeans rich client platforms. It summarizes that Eclipse uses the OSGi container but Agile Client moved to NetBeans due to SWT bugs in Eclipse. While NetBeans sacrifices some backend purity, it fixes end-user visible bugs by being fully Java-based rather than using SWT. The document also lists pros and cons of each platform, with NetBeans being fully Java but having less OSGi support, while Eclipse has more OSGi module support but uses the proprietary SWT graphics system.

1. Common Client
Rich Client Platforms
March 30 2009
Charlie Black
Senior Software
Engineer

2. Background
• Rich Client Platform
– With it, programmers can build their own applications on existing platforms. Instead of having to write
a complete application from scratch, they can benefit from proven and tested features of the
framework provided by the platform – From Wikipedia
– According to Wikipedia there are three Platforms: Eclipse, NetBeans, and Spring
– For our trade study we have only looked at Eclipse and NetBeans since Spring doesn’t provide the
client facilities of the other 2 platforms.
• Agile Client started development on Eclipse due to its use of an OSGi container.
• OSGi is a open standard specification container for deploying “modules” of
functionality.
– It started from the embedded and network devices community
• Agile Client moved off of Eclipse due to SWT bugs
– SWT – Standard Widget Toolkit which is the Eclipse API for making buttons / label / and tables
• In Eclipse standard Java UI programming is a second class citizen.
– Why is there a SWT?
• The IBM smalltalk engineers that made eclipse wanted native look and feel.
• By going with NetBeans Agile Client fixed its end-user visible bugs, sacrificing our
backend purity.
– NetBeans uses the NetBeans Module System – basically traded one proprietary spec for another (SWT
for Netbeans Module System).
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3. Eclipse
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4. Netbeans
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5. Did you see the difference?
• The end user sees very little difference.
• For Eclipse the RSS window was written in SWT and for
NetBeans it was written in Java.
• The “globe” are Java components in both examples.
• Both are “modular” in backend development
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6. Pros and Cons Eclipse
• Pros
– OSGi module system
• Growing support for OSGi
modules in server side
frameworks
• Cons
– SWT – Proprietary graphics system
• Notice the picture on the left…
Where is the Java based globe?
• Standard Java UI are a second
rate system in Eclipse which is
based on SWT.
• If there is an uncaught
exception in the Java UI, stack
trace, the window will freeze.
• SWT was written by eclipse
developers for eclipse in C on
GTK by IBM smalltalk developers
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7. Pros and Cons Netbeans
• Pros
– Its 100% Java
• Cons
– OSGi support is in beta.
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8. More Decision Points
• Market – Eclipse is market friendly in two ways
– A lot of developers use Eclipse
– Commercial companies use Eclipse Rich Client Platform to lure in the developer base
• Market – NetBeans is winning more awards (Open Source / Development / Utility)
than Eclipse
• A Developer does not have to use the same IDE as the Platform they coding to.
• From a Java World Article on Eclipse vs NetBeans out of the box experience as an
IDE:
• What call would I make if I had to make one again?
– Netbeans – Mainly due to the Eclipse proprietary UI api for buttons / labels (SWT)
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