Question

Is it normal that the default behavior for code completion when editing Java is the following?

1. If I import a package, after typing the first ., any key I press results in the first item in the list being selected
2. Sometimes while typing keywords like public and protected, NetBeans will make some wild leaps and insert private after just a p or pu are typed!
3. In general, it tends to make some big guesses in terms of autocompletion, guesses that are not supported by my previous input at all.

I feel like this cannot be the desired behavior for every user. Is there a way to make the code completion not autocomplete anything, or at least make it way less eager?

Edit: To be clear, I do not want to have to disable the sometimes-useful “Autopopup Window.” I want the window to eagerly appear with tips and suggestions for methods, syntax, whatnot – I just don’t want NetBeans to try to guess what I want, because it is wrong 90 – 100% of the time.

Answer 1

Which version of Netbeans are you using because that doesn’t seem to be the behaviour I am seeing in 7.1.

AutoCompletion popups don’t appear until I hit Ctrl+Space.
If I type “p” and then hit Ctrl + Space, the popup shows “private”, “protected” and “public”. I can either keep typing (and the list gets smaller as possible matches are removed) or use the cursors to select the word I want and hit Enter.

If there is only one logical option e.g. I start typing “pu” and then hit Ctrl+Space, then Netbeans inserts “public” automatically (though this can be turned off).

Code templates are a different story, I have them set to be activated using Shift+Space. As far as I know, templates don’t show any popups. Anyone who likes pain can consider changing the activation key to just Space 😛