Using Netbeans/Derby to Teach Web Development

This last semester I taught Java Web Development here at UNO. It was a great experience from the standpoint that it made me learn things even deeper. I hope my students got something out of it. I was also fortunate enough to have taken the approach of trying to facilitate learning rather than playing the "I know everything" game (in fact I don't :) ). This allowed me to leverage knowledge in the classroom and I think all had a better experience because of it. We went over many items and even put some of it into practice. The thing that really saved my rear though was Netbeans + Derby. Without that I probably would have created a bunch of people who decided that Java web development sucked. Even though it is only hard because it has gotten so complex and layered. Netbeans allowed me to skip all of the Tomcat setup. Derby allowed me to to skip the DB setup and Netbeans made integrating all of it a piece of cake. Great work guys! I am glad to see the Swing crew come though.