NetBeans is more than an IDE - it is a full fledged platform for
developing Java desktop applications. The NetBeans IDE uses libraries
provided by the NetBeans platform that make displaying windows,
handling events, and plugging in new modules much easier. Using these
libraries can speed the development of interactive desktop
applications. Interactive Network Technologies Inc. (INT) is a Houston
based software company that provides graphical toolkits primarly for
the oil and gas industry. It has migrated its geophysical data viewer,
INTViewer, to the NetBeans platform. Customers can easily add modules
to INTViewer as well as add custom features. We will take a look at
developing applications with the NetBeans platform, using INTViewer as
a case study.