SCSNI Study Guide

This is a draft of study guide based on SCSNI (Sun Certified Specialist Netbeans IDE) exam objectives.

SCSNI Study Guide

Exam Objetive	Resources
Section 1: IDE Configuration
1.1 Demonstrate the ability to configure the functionality available in the IDE, including using enabling and disabling functionality and using the Plugin Manager.	Installing a 3rd Party Plugin.
1.2 Explain the purpose of the user directory and the netbeans.conf file and how these can be used to configure the IDE.	How do I make my custom startup parameters permanent?
1.3 Demonstrate the ability to work with servers in the IDE, such as registering new server instances and stopping and starting servers.	Setting Up Server Environment Introduction to Developing Web Applications
1.4 Describe how to integrate external libraries in the IDE and use them in coding and debugging your project.	Introduction to Developing General Java Applications
1.5 Demonstrate knowledge of working with databases in the IDE, including registering new database connections and tables running SQL scripts.	Connecting to a MySQL Database
1.6 Describe how to integrate and use different versions of the JDK in the IDE for coding, debugging, and viewing Javadoc documentation.	–
Section 2: Project Setup
2.1 Describe the characteristics and uses of a free-form project.	–
2.2 Demonstrate the ability to work with version control systems and the IDE. (Which VCS’s are available, which ones you need an external client for, how to pull sources out of a repository, view changes, and check them back in).	Guided Tour of CVS for NetBeans IDE 6.x
2.3 Describe the ways in which you can change the build process for a standard project, such as configuring project properties and modifying the project’s Ant build script.	–
2.4 Configure your project to compile against and run on a specific version of the JDK.	–
Section 3: Java SE Development
3.1 Demonstrate the ability to create NetBeans projects from the source code of an existing Java SE program.	Importing Eclipse Projects into NetBeans IDE
3.2 Describe how to manage the classpath of a Java SE project, including maintaining a separate classpath for compiling and debugging.	–
3.3 Demonstrate the knowledge of the NetBeans GUI Builder and the ability to lay out and hook up basic forms using it.	Designing a Swing GUI in NetBeans IDE
3.4 Demonstrate the ability to package and distribute a built Java Desktop project for use by another user.	–
Section 4: Java EE Web Development
4.1 Describe how to create a NetBeans project from the source code of an existing Web application.	–
4.2 Distinguish between a visual web application and web application.	Getting Started with Visual Web JSF Application Development
4.3 Demonstrate knowledge of which web frameworks are available in NetBeans IDE and how they are added to and used in a web application.	Adding Support For A Web Framework
4.4 Describe how to monitor HTTP requests when running a web application.	Running and Monitoring the Application
4.5 Demonstrate a knowledge of basic tasks related to building and deploying web applications to a server, such as changing the target server and undeploying an application.	NetBeans IDE Tutorial for Web Applications
Section 5: Editing
5.1 Describe the purpose and uses of refactoring and demonstrate the ability to perform basic refactoring on Java source code.	Java Editing in NetBeans IDE 6.0
5.2 Describe how to use the Options window to change the default appearance and behavior of the Source Editor.	–
5.3 Describe the ways that the IDE highlights errors in source code and the tools the IDE offers for correcting those errors.	–
5.4 Demonstrate the ability to use editor hints, such as implementing all the methods for an implemented interface	–
5.5 Demonstrate the ability to use live code templates such as automatic generation of constructors, try/catch loops, and getters and setters.	–
Section 6: Testing, Profiling, and Debugging
6.1 Demonstrate the ability to work with JUnit tests in the IDE, such as creating JUnit tests and interpreting JUnit test output.	Writing JUnit Tests in NetBeans IDE
6.2 Describe how to debug a local (desktop) application, including setting breakpoints and stepping through code.	Testing and Debugging the Project
6.3 Describe the difference between local and remote debugging and describe how to debug a remote (web) application.	–
6.4 Describe the purpose of profiling applications and how to profile a local desktop application in the IDE.	Introduction to Profiling Java Applications Advanced Profiling: Theory in Practice Demo: Source Editing Features

More useful resources:

• SCSNI Study Group from Wagner R. Santos. GREAT work!
• NetBeans Docs & Support. Home of best NetBeans documentation.
• Netbeans IDE Certification Exam Study Guide. A list of resources for SCSNI at NetBeans Wiki.
• NetBeans Screencasts. Just watching some of them (about 10 minutes each) can grantee you a lot of question in your exam.

Please, collaborate in the comments with others resource links (with section number). Let’s complete this guide.