Python in NetBeans IDE 8.0.2

Let's get started with Python in NetBeans IDE 8.0.2.

Take the following steps:

1. Prepare. Watch this YouTube movie:



2. Make Sure You're Prepared. Watch the movie again. It takes less than 5 minutes.
   


3. Get the Correct Version of NetBeans IDE. Download NetBeans IDE 8.0.2, the "Java SE" distribution, which is the one where I've tried the scenario below. You're free to choose any other distribution, I'd recommend never using "All" except if you really need to do Java ME and C/C++ development, for pretty much all other scenarios, one of the other distributions is much better, i.e., smaller, faster. However, do make sure that you only continue with the next step if you have NetBeans IDE 8.0.2 installed. Note that there is a "2" in the previous sentence, i.e., it is not enough to have NetBeans IDE 8.0, nor to have NetBeans IDE 8.0.1. Instead, dowload and install NetBeans IDE 8.0.2.
   


4. Get the Python Plugin for NetBeans IDE 8.0.2. Go here, click Download on the page, and then unzip the file that you have downloaded: http://plugins.netbeans.org/plugin/56795
   


5. Go to the Plugin Manager in NetBeans IDE. In NetBeans IDE, go to Tools | Plugins. Click the "Downloaded" tab, which you see below. Click Add Plugins and browse to the folder where you unzipped the files in the previous step. Select them all. You now should see exactly this:

   
   



6. Install the Python Plugin. Click Install. Click Next. Put a checkmark in "I accept the terms in all of the license agreements." Click Install. Click Continue. Click Finish. Click Close.
   


7. Go to the New Project Dialog. Go to File | New Project or press Ctrl-Shift-N. You should now see this:

   
   



8. Get Started Creating a Python Application. Click Next. If you have Python installed correctly on your system, you'll see the installations available (look in the "Python Platform" drop-down below), possibly after a moment while NetBeans searches for your installations:

   
   



9. Step Through the Wizard. Pick the Python Platform of your choice, provide a name (e.g., "HelloPythonWorld") and a location to store the application, in the step above, and click Finish.
   


10. Run the Python Application. The application opens, click the green Run arrow in the toolbar or right-click the application and choose Run. You now should see this:

Right now, the main missing feature is the set of well established smart editor features in NetBeans IDE, such as code completion, i.e., when you press Ctrl-Space, nothing happens. No error checking, i.e., no parsing is done, either. These are things being worked on right now. However, you can code and run and debug your Python applications, which is a lot more than nothing.

Feedback welcome, especially if you're planning to contribute code to this project.