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Historically NetBeans project relies on (nb-)javac  for javac  for Java editing features, i.e., parsing and lexing, for features such as syntax coloring, code completion, refactorings, and the like. This .

NetBeans 13 uses Javac from JDK 17!

• Approved

  Jira
  server ASF JIRA columns key,summary,type,created,updated,due,assignee,reporter,priority,status,resolution serverId 5aa69414-a9e9-3523-82ec-879b028fb15b key LEGAL-563

• Repository with automatically generated nb-javac
• PR-3206 integrates the below proposed solution into NetBeans 13.
• PR-1 makes sure only Classpath exception  covered files are used in the nb-javac  generated binary
• PR-3251 includes the here-in proposed Javac in all NetBeans complementary binaries
• PR-2783 allows compilation against JDK-17 Javac API - removes need for (reflection & co.) hacks

Javac from JDK is Great!

Relying on Javac has some positive aspects, but also some downsides. Read more about nb-javac in Differences: nb-javac.

Pros:

• Adopting latest Java language features is simple(r)
• Errors, hints, warnings in the editor match exactly the command line build
• Close co-operation with JDK language team

Cons:

• On demand download (of newest javac on old JDKs) is problematic

  • user needs internet connection 

  • download server needs to be on (finally nb-javac is at least hosted on Maven central)

  • e.g. sometimes download fails

• Code is complicated
  • Supporting multiple releases of javac (from different JDKs) complicates NetBeans code
  • NetBeans code in java.source  & related modules if full of reflection
  • NetBeans is using internal API of javac (Trees API) and it changes incompatibly with every release

• Testing matrix is complicated

  • each supported JDK needs to be tested twice - with nb-javac  and without nb-javac 

  • every JDKs javac is a bit different

• 
  

• Every bug/problem one needs to know whether nb-javac  was or wasn't in use

  • Recent version nb-javac-15  isn't really stable

• Old nb-javac  is  is a fork of JDK's javac

  • nobody likes forks

  • ironically Arvind's team is part of JDK organization - e.g. it maintains own fork of JDK's javac 

Status

• Approved

  Jira
  server ASF JIRA columns key,summary,type,created,updated,due,assignee,reporter,priority,status,resolution serverId 5aa69414-a9e9-3523-82ec-879b028fb15b key LEGAL-563

• PR-3206 integrates the here-in proposed solution into NetBeans (post 12.6).
• PR-3251 includes the here-in proposed Javac in all NetBeans complementary binaries

Eliminating the need for nb-javac

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