Setting up JME3 in Netbeans 8.x

For development with the jMonkeyEngine 3, we recommend to use the jMonkeyEngine SDK.

Alternatively, you can use your favorite IDE: In this tutorial we show how to download and set up the latest nightly build of the jMonkeyEngine 3 for use with the NetBeans IDE. Instructions for Eclipse are also available.

Note that the jMonkeyEngine SDK is built in top of the NetBeans Platform, and is identical to the NetBeans IDE for Java (plus some unique NetBeans plugins). Basically it’s redundant and unnecessary to set up jME for NetBeans – but if you want to, it’s easily possible.

Downloading jME3

The currently available JAR binaries are the nightly builds.

  1. Download the most recent zipped build from https://github.com/jMonkeyEngine/jmonkeyengine/releases

  2. Unzip the file and save it as jME3.2-stable in your NetBeansProjects directory. You should see the following files and directories:

    1. lib/ - The jMonkeyEngine binaries and libraries. (Don’t remove.)

    2. jMonkeyEngine3.jar – Run this executable jar file to see various feature demos. (optional)

    3. javadoc/ - jME3 API documentation. (optional)

    4. sources/ - jME3 source files. (optional)

Creating a Project

In NetBeans, choose File  New Project, select Java  Java Application, click Next.

  • Project Name: HelloJME3

  • Project Location: ~/NetBeansProjects

  • Create main() Class: Yes

  • Click Finish

The new project appears in the Projects window.

Setting up Dependencies

Your project depends on the jMonkeyEngine libraries and needs to know where they are. We will create a global library so you can use it for other projects without having to re-configure everything. You only do this one time.

  1. In the Projects window of the HelloJME3 project, RMB click the project’s Libraries node and choose Add Library.

  2. In the Add Library dialog, click the Create button.

  3. For the Library Name enter “jME3.2-stable”.

  4. For the Library Type select Class Libraries.

  5. Click OK and the Customize Library dialog will open.

  6. In the Classpath tab, click the Add Jar/Folder button and navigate to the lib/ directory located in your ~/NetBeansProjects/jME3.2-stable folder. .  Select all JARs in lib/ and when done click the Add Jar/Folder button.

    • Optional: Configuring the Source File  editor for NetBeans.

      • In the Sources tab, click the Add Jar/Folder button and navigate to the sources/ directory located in your ~/NetBeansProjects/jME3.2-stable folder. **  Select all JARs in sources/ and when done click the Add Jar/Folder button.

    • Optional: Configuring the JavaDoc Popups in NetBeans.

      • In the Javadoc tab, click the Add ZIP/Folder button and navigate to the javadoc/ folder located in your ~/NetBeansProjects/jME3.2-stable folder.

      • Select the javadoc/ folder but do not enter the directory, the File Name will change to javadoc. Click the Add ZIP/Folder button to close the dialog.

  7. Click the OK button, next click the Add Library to create the library.

The necessary libraries are now on the classpath and should appear in the Libraries list. You now have a global library you can add to any project.

If you configured your library with sources and javadocs, open a class of your HelloJME3 project, place the caret into a jme3 class, and press Ctrl + Space to see the javadoc popup, as well as code-completion.

To open the source file editor, RMB click on any jME3 class or method, then select Navigate  Go To Source.

Build & Run Tips in NetBeans

How to build and run in NetBeans:

  • Clean and build the whole project by pressing Shift + F11.

  • Run any file that is open in the editor and has a main() class by pressing Shift + F6.

  • Run the Main class of the project by pressing F6.

Tips for configuring the main class in NetBeans:

  • RMB select the HelloJME3 project and choose “Set as main project”. Now you can use the toolbar buttons (clean&build, run, debug, etc) to control this project.

  • RMB select the HelloJME3 project and choose Properties. Go to the Run section.

    • Under Main Class, specify the class that will be executed when you run the whole project. For now, enter hellojme3.HelloJME3.

Writing a SimpleApplication

You can now continue to write your first jme3 application!