Moving to NetBeans

After five years working with the Database Technology team at Clustra and here at Sun, I'm changing jobs and will now be working with the NetBeans team, focusing on (you guessed it) database tooling.

I'm not sure exactly what I'll be doing yet, but I know what I'll be doing first: pulling down the code, getting it to build, reading architecture and design docs, meeting with lots of people.

I've already checked out the code and got it to build -- pretty darn easy, Coming from Derby where we use subversion, it was kind of hard moving back to cvs -- I'm hoping at some point NetBeans will migrate over.

One thing I like already about the NetBeans code base is it is very consciously structured into independent modules. This is an approach I have always liked, it helps keep the coupling between areas in your system very loose and light. I have tried to sell this model to other teams I have worked with, but with limited success -- restructuring an existing code base into modules is hard.

Another interesting thing is that NetBeans is built with NetBeans. Each module has its own nbproject directory that contains the project for that module. I tried pulling the db project into NetBeans 5.5 but it failed. I was informed that right now you have to use a NetBeans build from the trunk to build NetBeans from the trunk. Hm... that all feels a little risky and circular to me, but I guess it works... There is always ant if nothing else works.

Anyway, I'm excited to be in this new area, it's actually more in line with my own interests. I also get the opportunity to bring expertise into the team while at the same time having the chance to learn a lot of new technology. I've been a back-end guy most of my career, and all these phrases like "container" and "layout manager" and "panel" are a bit Greek to me. Wish me luck!