Netbeans 5.5 Beta 2 is mainly a bug-fix release of the IDE, providing better support for the Java Persistence API, EJB 3, and JAX-WS 2.0.

While NetBeans now claims to be the IDE with the most complete support for Java EE 5, it features other innovative tools, such as the Matisse GUI builder and layout manager, as well as support for J2ME, and a profiler.

Some notable features in the NetBeans 5.5 beta 2 are:

• Updated API support for Servlet 2.5, JavaServer Pages 2.1, JavaServer Faces 1.2
• Ability to generate Java entity classes from existing DB schemas. Also, create entity classes in the IDE and lets the server generate the DB relying on the DB-from-Java feature in the Glassfish app server
• Wizards for creating complete web application for manipulating data in the database using Java Persistence
• Enhanced Java source editor with code completion, on the fly error checking and verification, and hints specifically targeting Java Persistence as well as EJB 3.
• Generates JAX-WS 2.0 artifacts for SE 6 and EE 5 projects
• High-level user actions that generate common code patterns, such as calling a web service
• Simplified development of session beans and message driven beans

NetBeans has come a long way, and Sun's support of both the tool and the NetBeans developer community has been impressive. At the same time, some have called on Sun to join the Eclipse project, instead of continuing with a competing IDE effort. To what extent do you think having a strong open-source alternative to Eclipse helps the developer community?