In order to install NetBeans IDE, you must download it, free of charge, from the following address:
https://netbeans.org/downloads/index.html
On the NetBeans web page, there is a dropdown list that lets you choose the required platform (Windows, Linux, or Mac OS X). Choose the platform that matches yours. This article shows the process of installing NetBeans IDE on a Windows platform.
From all the “download bundles” available on netbeans.org, select and download the one called “All.” When the download is complete, run the corresponding installer.
If you receive the message shown in Figure 1, it means that the Java SE Development Kit (JDK) was not found on your system. Please click here to download and install the JDK before proceeding with the NetBeans IDE installation.
Figure 1 This message is displayed when the JDK is not found on your system.
On the first screen of the NetBeans IDE installer, you can keep and install all the proposed packs and runtimes or you can click on the “Customize” button and check only those proposed in Figure 2.
Figure 2 Selecting the packs and runtimes to install in the NetBeans IDE installer
Click on the “Next” button to go through the installation screens. When the license agreement shows up, you must read and accept the terms. The next screen prompts you to select the installation folder and the Java Environment. Leave the proposed folders as shown in Figure 3.
Figure 3 Selecting the installation folders in the NetBeans IDE installer
Notice: The installation folder and the Java environment proposed on your computer may differ from those in Figure 3 depending on the versions of the NetBeans IDE or JDK that you have.
On the next screen, leave the field “Check for Updates” checked, as shown in Figure 4. This option will automatically check for updates of installed plugins.
Figure 4 Selecting the box to check for updates
Click on the “Install” button.
When the installation process is complete, you can open the NetBeans IDE. The first screen that you will see is shown in Figure 5.
Figure 5 The NetBeans IDE start page
Now you need to configure NetBeans IDE. From the main menu select Tools → Options and in the popup window that appears, click on the C/C++ icon to open the “Options” dialog box of C/C++, as shown in Figure 6.
Figure 6 The “Options” dialog box of C/C++
Notice: If Cygwin is not installed on your system, read and follow the instructions shown here.
On the “Code Assistance” tab, select the “C++ Compiler” tab, click on the “Add” button, and select the folder of the Boost C++ Library as shown in Figure 7.
Figure 7 Adding the Boost C++ Library
Notice: If Boost is not installed on your system, read and follow the instructions shown here.
One additional thing that you can do is to decrease the number of spaces per indent to two. This can give you some more space to work. You can change this setting by first clicking on the Editor icon to open the Editor’s “Options” dialog box, as shown in Figure 8.
Figure 8 The Editor’s “Options” dialog box
On the “Formatting” tab, set the field “Number of Spaces per Indent” to 2.
Click on the “OK” button.
NetBeans IDE has been configured properly! Now you can conquer the world of C++ !