NetBeans refers to both a platform for the development of applications for the network (using Java, JavaScript, PHP, Python, Ruby, Groovy, C, and C++), and an integrated development environment (IDE) developed using the NetBeans Platform. The NetBeans Platform allows applications to be developed from a set of modular software components called modules. A module is a Java archive file that contains Java classes written to interact with the NetBeans Open APIs and a manifest file that identifies it as a module. Applications built on modules can be extended by adding new modules. Since modules can be developed independently, applications based on the NetBeans platform can be extended by third party developers.

Official web page for product NetBeans