ez-on-da-ice - plugin detail

A darker look and feel for netbeans. It is based on the Metal Look And Feel and netbeans Get A Tan plugin.

NetBeans Plugin - ez-on-da-ice
Plugin owner: venkatramakkineni
Website: https://sourceforge.net/projects/ez-on-da-ice/
Added: 2011-12-04
License: CDDL-GPL-2-CP
Category: Graphical User Interface
Downloaded: 4,159 times
Rating:
 3.98, by 7 users

Plugin Log Show log

Versions available

Download plugin   Download size: 1.22 MB   Last Update: 2013-03-18

What's new in this version

Minimum Netbeans Version: 7.3-beta

Changes:
Version 0.1.6
  • Removed the hard coding Metal Look and And Feel. Users will now have to use the --laf javax.swing.plaf.metal.MetalLookAndFeel after installing the plugin.
  • Use --font 14 inside etc/netbeans.conf for better readability.
  • Enabled Metal Ocean theme for gradients.
  • Significant Change in colors but overall change towards better look.
  • This release also includes Hack to maven projects. A patch has been submitted already, Bug #225439.
  • It includes netbeans' implementation of Vista Tab Renderer to improve look and feel.
  • NOTE: If you use navigator, there is some text that is grey and matches the background making it invisible. If navigator functionality is important to you, please refrain from upgrading to this plugin version.
    Netbeans 7.3 comes with a new tab to customize the output colors inside OptionsPane. Unfortunately this doesn't affect anything but ant colors. The patch that I submitted exposes these colors to UIDefaults so that they can be customized based on LAF.


  • Version 0.1.5
  • Updates Notification Displayer is now themed. One can now read the text inside the notification displayer.
  • Submitted a patch for it. 206516

The distribution contains a hacked core.ui and db.dataview nbm modules. This will help developers to reap the benefits without waiting for netbeans software lifecycle to make the patch available. ( There are no known issues caused by this patch. )

NOTE : Release 0.1.5 will include changes from 0.1.4 as well. Since it has not been too long since 0.1.4 was released, I am leaving the release notes for 0.1.4 here as well.
Version: 0.1.4
  • Changed the database table view colors to match the rest of the LNG
  • Extracted all the colors to yml file. It is now much easier to create one's own colors by just creating a yaml file. Checkout sources for more info
  • Distribution contains a hacked db.dataview module. So, you can view the table view colors changed now and won't have to wait for netbeans to distribute the changes I submitted as a patch.
This release will include a db.dataview nbm file. It contains hacks to db.dataview to expose the color keys so that they can be customized by ez-on-da-ice. A patch has already been submitted, but their turnaround times seem to be insanely long. The first patch was submitted on 2012-08-09, it is still not available in the distributed nbm files. So the hack will help us in the mean time. Unzip the file and install both NBM files, note that Netbeans will let you install db.dataview nbm file only once and don't try to install it more than once. You can add and remove ez-on-da-ice at whim. Even if you uninstall ez-on-da-ice, the installed db.dataview plugin won't mess up any other look and feel. Like I said, all this db.dataview nbm contains are exposed color customization keys. Try it out, love to hear what you guys think of it so far.

Verifications for NetBeans versions

Plugin is not subject to any verification

Download plugin   Download size: 1.47 MB   Last Update: 2012-08-14

What's new in this version

  • Version: 0.1.3
  • Removed NIMRodLAF, using Metal LAF instead. This will remove all the unnecessary animations
  • Ctrl-F issue should be resolved now.
  • Text sliding on the GUI builder tab on Options pane should be eliminated.
This version introduces a few annoyances because of such a big change. The release is to fix the functionality issue that previous versions introduced. Watch for fined tuned look in the future releases and as always, file a bug if you think there is one, helps me spend that much more time on development.

Verifications for NetBeans versions

7.2 verification PASSED See verification details
Download plugin   Download size: 1.23 MB   Last Update: 2012-07-28

What's new in this version

0.1.2 Changed the tab title text color to white so it is readable.
0.1.1 Changed the menus to opaque.

Verifications for NetBeans versions

Plugin is not subject to any verification

Download plugin   Download size: 0.19 MB   Last Update: 2012-05-28

What's new in this version

0.1.1 Changed the menus to opaque.

Verifications for NetBeans versions

Plugin is not subject to any verification



Introduction

ez on da ice

Goal of the project is to create a look and feel that is easy on the eyes

Project Page

Rate, Comment :)

mini.gif

Please open bugs and request changes on sourceforge.net. It makes it easier for me to remember and track.

Netbeans Bug:

Database view Colors Bug
The colors in database are not exposed outside. Without these it would not be possible to comeup with a good LNF. I have created a bug and submitted a patch. Could you guys please go to the bug page and vote it up. More the votes, faster the delivery and inturn you will get a better version of ez-on-da-ice.

Vote on Netbeans Patches

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User Comments

  

@kimp_07

Hi

This is a bug, I have been looking for the code that does this for a long time. I have not worked on the code in a few weeks because of daytime work overload, but I think I have a fix for this. I hope to deliver this in the next release. In the mean time, I think the only option available is to select the function to see the function params. There isn't a better way for now :(
Posted by venkatramakkineni on Apr 11, 2013
  

fonts and colors in ez-on-da-ice

Hi. Sorry for my bad English.
In outline navigator window the font of functions' parameters have the same color as background, and they're unvisible until unselected. how can I change it? thanks.
Posted by kimp_07 on Apr 11, 2013
  

Much-much better

Hi Venkat,

Thx. for the new version. It is much-much better :DDD.

DelD.
Posted by Deldadam on Mar 11, 2013
  

0.1.6

@Deldadam, Your comments didn't offend me. I got a chance to express my limitations. I have updated the plugin. Try taking an update. Let me know what you think.
Posted by venkatramakkineni on Mar 11, 2013
  

Re: Re: Still very ugly on Win7

I'm sorry, I didn't mean my comments offending, only wanted to point out the problems on Win7. (Somewhere I've read you're working on Linux, and thought maybe you can't test your plugin on Win.)

I appreciate your efforts and time put into this project, mainly because there are only very few available 'dark themes' in NB world. (It looks like other ppl have also recognised this: http://plugins.netbeans.org/plugin/46003/dark-nimbus-theme). And I hate the light background: can't imagine how ppl are able to gaze into a light screen all the day! So no, pls. don't give it up!

I'll compile my 'black list' and provide screenshots in my bug reports.

Regarding the version with Nimrod LaF: I meant it only 'cos that was the nicest version where I didn't see the current probs. I accept the reason why you've removed Nimrod LaF, so I don't want it back. I would like just to have the same nice colours on my screen what was provided by that old Nimrod-version...

Be prepared for my bug reports! :D

DelD.
Posted by Deldadam on Feb 25, 2013
  

Re: Still very ugly on Win7

Can't argue with blanket statement like that. If it makes you feel any better, it is much better on windows than on Linux. I tested it on windows. I agree with most of the issues you have, and all of them are fixable. If you are asking me to fix them, I will. Please open a bug on the project page like you did before. If on the other hand you are citing these problems to abandon the plugin, then let me tell you this, there is only so much room I can work with. Beyond that I will have to develop a new UI Implementation for each Component which I am trying to avoid. So, chances are you are not going to see any dramatic changes in the look and feel. The goal is to be easy to look at it for long hours, I will put my efforts towards that.

Font is customizable, please use the --fontsize flag to specify that inside your netbeans.conf. Here is a link to the documentation http://wiki.netbeans.org/FaqFontSize. I have changed mine and it looks a lot better.

Also, the version of the plugin you mentioned uses NimRodLAF. It doesn't integrate well with Netbeans. It was actually messing up Swing Component functionality, like if you hover over a text field it would add padding to a textpane elsewhere and such. This is the reason I removed it from classpath. If you care for it, checkout the older version of source code and try building it, let me know if you are stuck somewhere.
Posted by venkatramakkineni on Feb 25, 2013
  

Still very ugly on Win7

I loved this LaF with NB 7.1. But since you've changed to Metal LaF it is very ugly on Win 7. I don't know whether this is because of Metal LaF or your plugin doesn't simply fit to Windows boxes.

Just a few probs:
- ugly white/lgrey borders around everywhere mostly in menus, around icons when hovering them, menu commands
- font size is smaller than usual
- check boxes looks like gif pictures with 16 colours on the web in 90's
- unreadable text in many fields
- very dark blue name of (locally changed and uncommitted into repo's) files on dark grey background in Projects view

I'm sorry.

DelD.
Posted by Deldadam on Feb 21, 2013
  

Update Notification Bubble fixed.

Default Update Notification bubble is in pale yellow color and since our foreground is white, the text is barely readable. So changed the color to blue.
Posted by venkatramakkineni on Jan 28, 2013
  

Table colors fixed

Folks,

If you are using 7.3-beta, try out the 0.1.4 version of the plugin. The database table colors should be fixed. Let me know what you think.
Posted by venkatramakkineni on Jan 20, 2013
  

@Update

I would place my vote... but where is the bug report?

Link pls. I was not able to find the report via normal search...

Ciao,

DelD.
Posted by Deldadam on Aug 09, 2012
  

Update

Please help the development of ez-on-da-ice by voting up Database View Colors Bug. Ok fixed the link.

http://netbeans.org/bugzilla/show_bug.cgi?id=216558
Posted by venkatramakkineni on Aug 08, 2012
  

Has some problems with 7.2

The Find and Find/Replace text entry boxes are all messed up if the plugin is installed in NetBeans 7.2. We had to temporarily disable the plugin after we upgraded to 7.2.
Posted by kidvid on Aug 02, 2012
  

Pretty good

Works OK, but there are some issues as mentioned in previous comments. 3rd party Swing look and feels never seem to get it quite right, or break between Java versions.

I use the old style "steel" Metal l&f which works well, and is much lighter than all other look and feels. It is possible to change the colors of the Metal l&f. I think using metal would be a better basis for a dark color plugin as it's never going to get "outdated" because oracle has to support it.

What would be really neat is if there was a plugin based on Metal where we could define our own colors for the UI.

Posted by eggbert74 on Jul 30, 2012
  

@Venkat

"... to become one of those ten..."
Well, a little help:
'10' = 2 in binary notation

Sorry, it is almost 30 years old joke. Certainly you are from a younger generation ;-)

DelD.
Posted by Deldadam on Jul 28, 2012
  

@Deldadam

Thanks for testing the bug. I will look at it.

I have been aspiring to become one of those ten people for a while, but evidence suggests otherwise :). I'll change the version number.

Stay tuned for a release in a couple days, while it won't solve all issues, especially sql tables issue, it will solve some of them.
Posted by venkatramakkineni on Jul 26, 2012
  

Versioning - a wise methode to help users and yourself

A little bit confusing version numbers are used.
Here, on the top of NB plugin portal version '0.1.1' is written. The same version number is displayed on the SourceForge site (https://sourceforge.net/projects/ez-on-da-ice/). However the file size downloaded from here is 200 045 bytes, while the 'same' version on SourceForge has a size of 194 336 bytes. I doubt that the same sw. version can suffer from almost 6kB difference :)
Now it is getting more complicated if you install the plugin, and you look at the internally displayed version number in NB's Plugin window: it says 'version 1.0'.

I know that 'there are only 10 people on the world who can understand the binary logic' - but I hope you are among them :)

So, currently you've got only 2 versions, which is still not so complicated situation, but if you wanna develop your plugin in the future - and I hope you will - then you and your users will face to a messy situation, when not using some more consequent versioning.

Bye,

DelD.
Posted by Deldadam on Jul 26, 2012
  

Problem on find/replace fields in 7.2 - Windows too

Same problem found on Windows 7 as mentioned by Franck 2 posts earlier.

DelD.

P.s.: Opened bug tracker on Source Forge.
Posted by Deldadam on Jul 26, 2012
  

SQL DATA

Not well viewing data from a database with sql instructions in 7.1.2 version
Posted by gleyverg on Jul 16, 2012
  

@Venkat

Bug trackers opened as requested.

DelD.
Posted by Deldadam on Jul 15, 2012
  

Problem on find/replace fields in 7.2RC

Hi,

Thank you for this very nice work, thank you for my eyes !

I found a problem in 7.2RC : the two fields in the find/replace bar (Ctrl+F) disappear as I type in them, or as the mouse hovers them.

You can see a screen capture here :

http://dl.dropbox.com/u/40542280/netbeansScreenCapture.png

I'm on Debian GNU/Linux Testing (Wheezy), using KDE as desktop environment. Netbeans 7.2RC.

I don't have this problem on 7.1.2.

Thus, as you can see on the capture, all the tab titles in the left bar are black on very dark grey, which is not very readable. And the selected tab in the editor is not orange as in your picture, but this is not a problem.

Thanks again, and sorry for my english (french !).

Franck.
Posted by web82 on Jul 15, 2012
  

@Deldadam

Thanks for the comment.

This week has been busy, but I intend to provide fixes for this. Neil has helped by pointing me to his fixes, I have to customize those for ez-on-da-ice. Would you be so kind to open a bug on sourceforge.net :)

Thanks
Venkat
Posted by venkatramakkineni on Jul 13, 2012
  

Two small issues

Hi,

FYI:
- The background colour of file tabs in the editor are not 'themed' if using Win7/64 + JRE 7u4/64 + NB7.1.2. It uses the standard 'selection colour' set in Windows theme. (I mean that colour which is orange on your sample screenshot above.)
- The icons of the editor toolbar shrink in width a bit when mouse hovers them first time causing a small shift to left at the icons behind the hovered one (unexpected animation :-).

Anyway very nice plugin! I really like it, cos' I hate the bright backgrounds watching them all the day...

Keep going,

DelD
Posted by Deldadam on Jul 12, 2012
  

@NeilCSmith

Hmm

Didn't even know about the bug. Thanks for the heads up. I will look at it.
Posted by venkatramakkineni on Jul 11, 2012
  

@venkatramakkineni

Venkat,

Glad it was useful! Something else you might find of use is my comment on http://netbeans.org/bugzilla/show_bug.cgi?id=207569 which was originally reported against your module.

Best wishes, Neil
Posted by NeilCSmith on Jul 11, 2012
  

@NeilCSmith

Neil

Thanks, I haven't visited your page before. I have added the first fix and the tab text is much more clear. Would you please share your changes. I can add those and publish a newer version.

Edit

Found a link to your source on your blog. Thank you.

Thankyou
Venkat
Posted by venkatramakkineni on Jul 10, 2012
  

The dark arts

This looks nice! Wondered if you'd seen my post here - http://praxisintermedia.wordpress.com/2011/09/29/the-dark-arts-of-netbeans-hackery/ Hack #1 *might* help with your installation issues below.

The Praxis theme is a slight fork of NimROD, which fixes a few issues I found with NetBeans components. I can point you at the changes if you're interested.
Posted by NeilCSmith on Jul 09, 2012
  

Opaque menus it is

You should be able to see opaque menus now. Thanks for the comments.
Posted by venkatramakkineni on May 11, 2012
  

Like the dark look

I appreciate the light-on-dark look, good job.

I'm not such a big fan of transparent menus. I prefer opaque.
Posted by jdalbey on May 11, 2012
  

work around

This happens because there seems to be no straight forward way to enforce netbeans restart on plugin reactivation.

When the plugin is deactivated netbeans forces a restart, so it is able to set the LAF to the default Synth on restart. But on reactivation, since there is no restart enforced, Installer is directly being called which is inturn setting the LAF to NimROD at runtime and hence the ClassCastException.

So I have requested a feature enhancement that would give plugin developers the liberty to request system restart if needed.

Until that point, the only way to get around this is by manually restarting netbeans after reactivating the plugin.
Posted by venkatramakkineni on Dec 19, 2011
  

half applied theme on reactivation


Hi there,
Installing it, activating it and deactivating it OK, however, re-activating it partially applies the theme to the IDE (unless you restart the IDE)
The changes I noticed:
> The plugin screen is themed
> Members View has is themed
> Half the menu labels are white
> Menu icons disappeared

Tested on: NetBeans IDE 7.1 RC2 (Build 201111302200)
Java: 1.7.0; Java HotSpot(TM) 64-Bit Server VM 21.0-b17
System: Windows 7 64bit
Posted by carlosqt on Dec 06, 2011
  

UI pb on reactivation

Hi,
a little problem :
- install the plugin, restart the IDE
- deactivate the plugin, restart the IDE
- reactivate the plugin => the Look&Feel is not updated, only some parts of the UI come from the new L&F

After a NetBeans restart, the L&F is ok.

Could you ask the user to restart NetBeans after the plugin reactivation ? (if it is technically possible)

Thx.


Tested on the latest Dev Build, JDK 6u29 and 7u01, WinXP SP3 x86_32.
Posted by ent38 on Dec 05, 2011
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