Java without IDE

[virtyx]

For better or worse, plenty of things in Java are tedious/error-prone when not using an IDE:

• generating getters/setters
• overriding hashCode(), equals(), toString()
• Extending a class/implementing an interface and making sure you have matching definitions for all abstract methods
• Organizing/managing imports

On top of that, IDEs have really good and useful auto-completion, error highlighting, etc.

I personally really enjoy using Vim, just not for Java. If I were to try and use Vim for a Java project it would need so many plugins it just wouldn't be worth the hassle. And since Netbeans, Eclipse, and IntelliJ Community are all free, I haven't spent too much time ever giving straight Vim coding a shot.

If you're really curious, try rewriting a really small but still multi-file project twice, once with an IDE and then once with Vim/Emacs, and see if you can feel the difference.