What impresses me most about Netbeans is how open they are to suggestions and feedback. I have compiled a wishlist of features. While I don't seriously expect to see all of these implemented I think this type of list could be extended based on JL community feedback and provide Tim, Trung and the gang with some useful ideas for future releases. The Netbeans guys already seem to be working at warp speed if you have been following the last few releases

Many of the features are based on examining the features of other IDEs such as JBuilder, Eclipse and VS2003, others are based on suggestions I have seen in forums or thought up myself. I'm sure other users have items they would like to add to this list.

*THE NETBEANS WISHLIST*

REFACTORING:
(from JBuilder):
-Inline... (Also in Eclipse)
-Extract Interface From...
-Introduct Superclass for...
-Introduct Superclass for...
-Pull Up... (Also in Eclipse)
-Push Down... (Also in Eclipse)
-Extract Method... (Also in Eclipse)
-Introduce Variable...
-Introduce Field...
-Surround with Try/Catch
-Introduce Foreach...
-Introduce Auto(un)boxing... (Can't see myself using this one though)
-Introduce Generics...

(from Eclipse):
-Generalize Type...
-User Supertype Where Possible...
-Introduce Factory...
-Extract Constant...
-Extract Local Variable...
-Convert Local Variable to Field...


SEARCHING
(from JBuilder and Eclipse):
-Wildcard (*and ?) and regular expression search (for ctrl-F)


EDITING
(from Eclipse):
-Smart semicolon insert from inside a String literal (missing in NB and an optional feature in Eclipse)
-Smart brace insert (missing in NB and optional in Eclipse)
-Tab points for editor abbreviations (can press Tab to move to "next" part of template that needs to be filled in (marked with a green line in Eclipse)
(from IntelliJ IDEA):
-Surround selection with for(, try/catch, while(, runnable etc.
(suggestions):
-OpenOffice style word completion (completes both class names (from rt.jar), identifiers and the old ctrl+k, ctrl-l features, also keep a set of recently used words similar to OpenOffice)


MACROS
(from VS2003)
-Recording of *temporary* macros


SOURCE
(from Eclipse):
-Add Block Comment (/**/)
-Remove Block Comment (/**/)
-Sort Members
-**Override/implement methods (NB calls this Synchronize - very confusing)
-**Generate Getters/setters
-Generate contructor using field(s)...
-Add constructor from superclass...
-Surround with try/catch (already mentioned in JBuilder list)
-Formatting of source for *multiple* items selected in project window


NAVIGATION
(from Eclipse)
-"Back" and "Forward" between files (like web browser)
-Type hierarchies etc.


PROJECT
(from Eclipse)
-Build automatically (i.e. compile on save)


ENTERPRISE
(from JBuilder)
-Support for RMI


WEB SERVICES
-Change "new web service operation" dialog so that it is clear that not just the primitive and String types are supported (perhaps also validate class entered for validity)
-Easy creation of Swing-based web service clients (probably depends on which WS features are available in the JDK though - improving with Mustang)


DATABASE
(from VS2003)
-Wizards to connect to databases (may require JDBC Drivers for different databases included with download e.g Postgres, Oracle 10g, Oracle 9i etc)
This could be integrated with the Runtime window so that users can "drag" a database into the source editor and code is generated to connect to the DB


GUI DESIGNER
-*JDNC Integration and wizards (together with database feature listed above)
-*Intuitive form designer (needs to be as easy as VS form designer for "newbies" to use)
*(I understand these features are already in the works)
(from VS2003):
-Report designer and charting components integration


WEB APPLICATIONS
-Visual designer for JSF (I suppose that's what's Studio Creator is for :))
I wouldn't mind seeing Studio Creator offered as a NetBeans plugin so I can combine the features of NetBeans with the ease of use and RAD features of Studio Creator


OTHER
(from Eclipse)
-(optional) Advanced syntax highlighting (highlighting of static fields and methods: appears to be implemented as background thread)
(from JBuilder and Eclipse)
-Local history (previous version of saved files stored locally)


TEAM FEATURES
(from JBuilder and VS2005 Team System)
These still need to be investigated


OTHER WISHLIST ITEMS:
-Toolbar button for launching JavaDocs in Default browser
-Aesthetically pleasing syntax highlighting colors (esp. no more PINK bracket highlights, gray comments and other poor choices such as String literal highlighting) See how Eclipse, JBuilder and VS chose their colors
-Use of system colours for windowing system and tabs
-Support for Profiler in version of NB later than 4.0.
-Profiler support for JDK5.0 (and inclusion with the default NetBeans download)
-Support for Barcelona Project's MVM when it is released for research (could speed up development cycle esp. for reloading Swing apps)
-Scanning for changes to rt.jar should just use date modified (this may already be the case).
-EXE creator using Launch4j (and equivalents for other platforms)
-Better documentation for the NetBeans platform
-Wizards to assist creating plugins for NetBeans
-Option (with keyboard shorcut) to collapse all comment blocks (not just javadoc style comments)
-Static analysis of source to find bugs See JavaONE 2004 ts1847 - very interesting (Eclipse does this to a degree)
-Faster code completion (NB currently can't keep up with even relatively slow typing, even of latest hardware)
-Library of Code snippets which can be dropped into the editor (see www.javaalmanac.com) (I *really* like this idea)
-JSP and servlet preview within IDE
-Surround with timing code (using System.nanoTime() or System.currentTimeMillise())
-Better text AA (depends on Mustang)
-Generation of getter/setter for arrays which supports indexed properties
-jar file creator
-Icon designer (now I'm really pushing my luck :))