Java: From "Hard Coding" to Using an Integrated Development Environment

Being a Java developer the decision of starting to use an integrated development environment (IDE) instead of a set of discrete programming tools, is to be taken sooner or later. This paper identifies the favorite features to opt for, in selecting a suitable IDE, what should be used and by whom with plethora of such IDEs. Though IDEs are meant to facilitate program development and increase productivity, migrating developers might fall into a set of common pitfalls that could hinder productivity. Such pitfalls are indicated and discussed in the view of available IDE features