Source Code Stub

Source code stub is a source code file converted from the original Java source file. The stub has only the public/protected methods and fields definitions, all javadoc, but no method body, nor private methods or fields. The purpose of this source code stub is to help Java IDEs to provide a better support for the intelli-sense (or auto-completion). You can see below to find out what difference it made for IntelliJ IDEA, NetBeans and Eclipse. You won't get this kind of information even using debug jars.

For information how to setup in your Java IDE, refer to the examples subfolder in the evaluation package or the release package. It contains the project files for the three Java IDEs mentioned above with the source code stub zip configured correctly in "JIDE" library.

The JIDE source code stub zip file is free for all JIDE customers. It will greatly improve the development experience of our products. Of course if you are already JIDE source code license customers, you don't need this stub because you have the full source code zip file.

We also made the tool to generate the source code stub available on the online store as Source Code Stub Generator. If you are also developing API libraries like we do, you probably need it. It is a simple doclet that can be integrated into your ant build script and generate a zip file from the source code. You probably can write this tool yourself in about 2 days but why wasting time doing it again if you can purchase it for just $25?

IntelliJ IDEA

Override method dialogs

Note the second one has the parameter names and the first one only has the parameter types.

override without src stub

Parameter auto-completion after selecting the method to override

v.s.

Intelli-sense on methods

v.s.

Parameter information (Ctrl-P)

v.s.

NetBeans

Override method dialogs

Note the second one has the extra parameter names and the first one only has the parameter names that don't make too much sense.

override without src stub

Parameter auto-completion after selecting the method to override

v.s.

Intelli-sense on methods

v.s.

Parameter Completion

v.s.

Eclipse

Parameter auto-completion after selecting the method to override

v.s.

Intelli-sense on methods

v.s.

Parameter information

v.s.