New DrJava Beta Release: drjava-beta-20100507-r5246

We have just released our second beta version in preparation for the next stable release: drjava-beta-20100507-r5246. You can download it from SourceForge or from the DrJava homepage.

Available for download at http://drjava.org .

DrJava is a lightweight programming environment for Java designed to
foster test-driven software development. It includes an intelligent
program editor, an interactions pane for evaluating program text, a
source level debugger, and a unit testing tool.

In addition to bug fixes in anticipation of the next stable release,
this beta release includes a number of new features introduced after
the last beta release:

These features include a simplified Java language level facility,
the ability to generate a custom DrJava .jar file that contains
additional libraries, and the ability to abort a “Find All” search
that encounters missing files.

Note: Java 1.4 compatibility has been dropped. To use DrJava, you will
need Java 5 or newer.

New features since the last beta release:

– The Java Language Level facility has been simplified. There now is
only one language level called “Functional Java”, using the file
extension .dj. It is comparable to the Intermediate level and
can still compile .dj0 and .dj1 files. .dj2 files are compiled
using the Full Java compiler. DrJava will suggest that you rename
.dj0 and .dj1 files to .dj files, and .dj2 files to .java files.

– DrJava can generate a custom .jar file of itself that includes
additional files. There is a Tools/Advanced/Generate Custom
drjava.jar menu item that takes the current DrJava executable file
and a number of user-specified files to generate a new jar file.

* The libraries included in the new jar file will then
automatically be included in the classpath and be usable without
adding them to a classpath somewhere.

* There is no functionality to remove the libraries again from the
modified jar file.

* Generating a custom DrJava jar file disables the check for
updated versions. Otherwise a user may download an updated
version that doesnt have required libraries anymore.

– When DrJava encounters missing files during a “Find All” search,
it will ask the user whether to continue or abort the search.

– Improved “New Java Class” dialog with some auto-completion.

– Better feedback when Java API data is loaded, which may involve
some delay if it is retrieved from the internet.

New features since the last stable release:

– The Eclipse Java Compiler is now integrated into DrJava. DrJava
therefore does not require the JDK anymore to compile
programs. Note that the JDK is still required to use the debugger
or to create Javadoc.

– DrJava supports the OpenJDK and JavaMint (multi-stage programming
in Java; see http://www.javamint.org/ ) compilers.

– JUnit 4.7 support.

– ConcJUnit support (for concurrent unit tests; see
http://www.concutest.org/ ).

– Access control for private and package private members now enabled
by default.

– DynamicJava (Interpreter) error messages are much better,
especially those involving method and constructor invocation.

– Added support in DynamicJava for explicit type arguments in local
function invocations (x = foo(23)).

– The Breakpoint, Bookmarks, and Find Results tabbed panes now have
Previous/Next buttons and associated keyboard shortcuts for simpler
browsing.

– The Interactions Pane working directory can now be specified even
when not using projects.

– If DrJava cannot start, for example because of bad memory settings
in the Preferences, DrJava will suggest that you let it reset the
Preferences.

– The preferred compiler can now be set, and this setting will be
restored when DrJava starts the next time.

– Zoom for Print Preview.

– New Class wizard.

– Save Copy ability for Definitions documents, Interactions Pane and
Console Pane contents.

Bug fixes since the last stable release:

– Fixed some indentation bugs.

– Fixed some GUI initialization problems that prevented DrJava from
starting on some systems.

– Fixed a bug that prevented DrJava from opening on MacOS 10.5 or
10.6.

– Fixed compiler error when closing curly brace missing.

– Fixed NullPointerException in Jar Project dialog.

– Fixed a bug that prevented users from editing External Processes.

– Fixed a bug in un-commenting source code.

– Fixed a bug in displaying the Auto-Import dialog in the
Interactions Pane.

– Improved suggestion to increase interactions JVM heap.

– Improved responsiveness when selecting a compiler.

– Fixed a bug that prevented users from generating Javadoc of
Language Level files.

– DynamicJava (Interpreter) bug fix allows the declaration of
interfaces.

– Miscellaneous small DynamicJava bug fixes make it much more robust
and correct, including better handling of member lookup, inner
classes, enums, interfaces, raw types, static imports, switch
statements, casts, and final variables.

– Bugfix for comparing 0.0 == -0.0 and NaNs.

– Bugfix in DynamicJava: Supports annotation declarations

– Bugfix in DynamicJava: Fixes parser bug for enums

– Bugfix in DynamicJava: Fixes implicit accessibility of interface
members

– Bugfix in DynamicJava: Fixes checking of assignments from character
literals

– Bugfix in DynamicJava: Improves checking of casts

– Bugfix in DynamicJava: getClass() is a special method with type
Class for all classes

– Bugfix in DynamicJava: Improves error messages for inner class
references

– Bugfix in DynamicJava: Preserves location in wildcards

– Bugfix in DynamicJava: Catches errors that occur during static
initialization of a class

– Bugfix in DynamicJava: Short-circuiting during type checking

– Bugfix in DynamicJava: += for strings

– Bugfix in DynamicJava: Array initializer is assigned to a non-array
type

– Misc improvements to DynamicJava SoureChecker

– Bugfix that prevented users from watching local variables in the
Debugger.

– Smaller Java Language Level fixes.