BlueJ

BlueJ is an integrated development environment for Java, which was designed specifically for training purposes. In particular, the mediating relationships in object-oriented programming is at the core of the system.

The user has to program a window with a shortened UML class diagram and a text editor with syntax highlighting and auto-completion are available. In the class diagram, the user can create classes and create associations between them. Changes to the graph are immediately reflected in the source code, and vice versa.

BlueJ provides a runtime environment for individual objects available including one- and output window for methods. After compiling the user can create objects of the classes, call public methods on the object and observe the assignment of the object variables. In this case, individual objects can also be used without having to specify a complete Java program. BlueJ can be downloaded for free from the homepage and is usable under the GPL license.

History

The development of BlueJ was started in 1999 by Michael Kölling and John Rosenberg at Monash University in Melbourne, as the successor of their programming Blue. Since March 2009, BlueJ is a free software, which is under GPL 2.

With version 2.5 of 7 October 2008 BlueJ provides support for SVN and JavaME.

The current version 3.1.1 was released on 27 January 2014. Besides bug fixes and minor enhancements to the functionality, this version includes improved support for screen readers and accessibility.

Currently, the project of Köllings group at the University of Kent, Canterbury, UK and La Trobe University, Melbourne, Australia will be further developed.

The development environment is programmed itself in Java and runs on Solaris, Linux, Mac OS X and Windows, each with current Java Virtual Machine and an installed JDK.

Functions

  • The class diagram is shown graphically and updated after each compilation Below are inheritance and relationships

BlueJ can be used to develop conventional Java programs Main method, applets and Java ME applications.

Some of the functions are deliberately hidden by default or inactive to allow, despite the range of a clear surface.

Extensions

BlueJ provides an API for extensions.

BlueJ itself is also available as plug-in for NetBeans.

Pictures of BlueJ

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