## Motivation Let me restate the [motivation](https://github.com/apache/netbeans/pull/ 9592#issuecomment-5536255861) I have for creating requests like for https:// github.com/apache/netbeans/pull/9631 and similar PRs that I am going to propose this autumn.
### Being for Experts NetBeans has a unique concept of handling projects. It is a completely different workflow than other IDEs are built around. I like it because it is flexible. However it also complicates things - because it is flexible. Projects are stored in Git repositories these days. When opening such a project, it (almost all the time) makes sense to **open all the projects** in the Git repository. That's not a NetBeans philosophy. NetBeans allows one to _cherry pick and open only some of the projects_. ### Being Different Such a flexibility makes NetBeans an IDE for experts. However it also comes with a cost. Not only implementation wise (IDE has to be ready for set of projects being "half open" which causes issues like https://github.com/apache/ netbeans/pull/9622), but also from a UX perspective. Every "expert" has different set of subprojects open and then the behavior of the IDE is different. Such a _"magical flexibility"_ makes the UX poor. Other IDEs have a **concept of workspace**. When opening Apache Maven sources in a "workplace", then the IDEs just open all the nested projects in the Apache Maven Git repository. ### Simplify UI. Keep Flexibility. I believe the time has come to straighten the NetBeans IDE position by adjusting to common UX while keeping the flexibility under neath. NetBeans already has a support for [groups of projects](https://cwiki.apache.org/ confluence/download/attachments/446071397/image-2026-8-18_8-37-16.png? version=1&modificationDate=1787035037000&api=v2). Just the UX feels old fashioned and like a second class citizen. I'd like to improve the UX by using the same infrastructure to **mimic the concept of a "workspace"**. Ideally I'd like to rework the _File_ menu to offer [Open/Close Folder, Add to Workspace, Save Workspace as](https://cwiki.apache.org/confluence/download/attachments/ 446071397/image-2026-8-18_8-39-37.png? version=1&modificationDate=1787035178000&api=v2) just like the pictured _File_ menu provides. ### TL;DR Experts _"in the know"_ can still _Open Project..._ one by one and _work only with a properly curated and selected subset_. However for clueless users working on an unfamiliar code base, I believe we have to lead the UX towards **open all the projects** at once. That is the outline of my plan. Let's simplify the NetBeans UX while keeping its flexibility this autumn! -jt PS: The proof of concept PR: https://github.com/apache/netbeans/pull/9631 is unlikely to ever get merged, but it allows us to **add line comments** at appropriate pieces. PPS: Cherry picked parts of that PoC PR may be proposed as their own PRs like: https://github.com/apache/netbeans/pull/9650 --------------------------------------------------------------------- To unsubscribe, e-mail: [email protected] For additional commands, e-mail: [email protected] For further information about the NetBeans mailing lists, visit: https://cwiki.apache.org/confluence/display/NETBEANS/Mailing+lists
