NetBeans是由Sun建立的开放源码的软件开发工具，是一个开放框架，可扩展的开发平台，可以用于Java，C/C++等的开发，本身是一个开发平台，可以通过">扩展插件来扩展功能。它是一个全功能的开放源码Java IDE，可以帮助开发人员编写、编译、调试和部署Java应用，并将版本控制和XML编辑融入其众多功能之中。NetBeans开发环境可供程序员编写、编译、调试和部署程序。虽然它是用Java编写的，但却可以支持任何编程语言。另外也有巨大数量的模块来扩展NetBeans IDE，它是一个免费产品，不限制其使用形式。
NetBeans 7.0 主要是会加入针对 JDK 7 语言变化上的更新。
另外就是加强 Oracle 企业产品的集成，Weblogic，Oracle DB等。
值得注意的，由于 JavaFX 2 线路的变化（本次JavaONE，Oracle 已经宣布重新打造 JavaFX 的API，用纯 Java 实现），JavaFX Scripting 支持将在 NetBeans 新版本中删除，如果你想使用JavaFx Scripting功能，只能另外保留一份 NetBeans 6.9.1。
从 NetBeans 7.0 发布第一个 Beta 版到现在已经五个多月了，今天终于迎来了 NetBeans 7.0 正式版。不管你用不用 NetBeans ，该版本都值得试试，NetBeans 7.0 也是第一个支持 Java 7 的 IDE 工具。
发行说明：
The NetBeans IDE is an award-winning integrated development environment available for Windows, Mac, Linux, and Solaris. The NetBeans project consists of an open-source IDE and an application platform that enable developers to rapidly create web, enterprise, desktop, and mobile applications using the Java platform, as well as PHP, JavaScript and Ajax, Groovy and Grails, and C/C++.
The NetBeans project is supported by a vibrant developer community and offers extensive documentation and training resources as well as a diverse selection of third-party plugins.
NetBeans IDE 7.0 introduces language support for development to the proposed Java SE 7 specification with the JDK 7 developer preview. The release also provides enhanced integration with the Oracle WebLogic server, as well as support for Oracle Database and GlassFish 3.1. Additional highlights include Maven 3 and HTML5 editing support; a new GridBagLayout designer for improved Swing GUI development; enhancements to the Java editor, and more.
NetBeans IDE 7.0 is available in English, Brazilian Portuguese, Japanese, Russian, and Simplified Chinese.
下载地址：http://netbeans.org/downloads/