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Ok, so maybe this isn't a big revelation to anybody else, but if you want to develop with nifty controls like GroupLayout in Java, you need version 1.6. And, if you are like me, and have moved over to Mac, you won't be able to do this. Why? Because Apple still has Java 1.5 as the default.

The solution is to download the developer preview from Apple Developer Connection (registration required).

That part is pretty straightforward, however after you download and install it, you need to make some changes to your NetBeans to get it to work. Here is what I did: In NetBeans go to Tools->Java Platform and click Add Platform. Then browse to /System/Library/Frameworks/JavaVM.framework/Versions/1.6 and select Home from the folder list (click only one time) and select the "Next" button. Then, click the "Finish" button.

Now, if you want to be able to actually use that platform, you need to edit another file, netbeans.conf. You will find this file tucked away in /Applications/NetBeans 6.0.1/Contents/Resources/NetBeans/etc/netbeans.conf

In there you will find a line that reads
netbeans_jdkhome=/System/Library/Frameworks/JavaVM.framework/Versions/1.5/Home
Replace that with this:
#netbeans_jdkhome=/System/Library/Frameworks/JavaVM.framework/Versions/1.5/Home
netbeans_jdkhome=/System/Library/Frameworks/JavaVM.framework/Versions/1.6/Home

After that, start (or restart) NetBeans, and you should be good to go.

Happy Holidays to all.

Here is a busy Pat update. I am officially that busy person that you bring your project to when you want to get it done right. Today I was fortunate enough to start figuring out the details for a project with a customer that I LOVE working with, and I renegotiated the way that I am working on a current (and difficult) project with another of my fantastic clients.

Not trying to be mystical, however most of my customers have me working on things that aren't really in front of the public, like tell-a-friend scripts, or parts to a larger site, things of that nature. One particular delicious coffee site however is taking all the attention it can get. Rocajava will actually give you free stuff just for shopping for your gourmet and ever so yummy beans there.

So, right now I have 5 pretty decent sized projects going, in various degrees of readiness, and I am having a hoot! These projects are all over the board too, from business card/letterhead/web design for a business attorney, all the way to a specialized automotive dealership web application to a desktop/web app for surveys. Fun indeed. I love variety.

Oh, yeah, before I forget, I got an awesome testimonial from a recent customer, Steve, who had this to say:

"We contacted Pat @ 33rdPrime to have a professional design piece created that would be used as an in product advertisement inside a Microsoft product. We received the highest quality work in a timely fashion with explanations as to what works best and why. We were extremely pleased with the value that was provided and look forward to having our web site redesigned in the near future."