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The IDE switches to Variables tab before the compilation is complete #9668
Description
Apache NetBeans version
Apache NetBeans 31
What happened
During the compilation, the IDE opens the Output and Variables tabs by default and switches to the Variables tab during the compilation, while there may still be failure output in the corresponding tab.
Language / Project Type / NetBeans Component
Java
How to reproduce
Build any project
Did this work correctly in an earlier version?
No / Don't know
Operating System
Any
JDK
Any
Apache NetBeans packaging
Apache NetBeans binary zip
Anything else
Always
Are you willing to submit a pull request?
No
Activity
mbien commentedon Oct 6, 2026
not sure what you mean by "Variables tab". There is a variables window for the debugger, but it wouldn't be active during build, only during debugging sessions.
please describe how to reproduce this.
dca00 commentedon Oct 6, 2026
The Variables tab is the Variables tab. You are correct that you find it under Debug views, but the compilation has nothing to do with build. It's the compilation that switches the tabs. As in "Run" or "Run with debugger".
mbien commentedon Oct 6, 2026
??
ok. The run action won't open the Variables view since it is not starting a debugger session.
But if you hit debug, it will indeed put some views into focus. Expression evaluator, Variables and Debugging.
I think what you are trying to say is that if the build fails while running the debug action on a maven project and you have variables in the same tab group of the output, you are now looking at the variables view but won't see the errror.
I suppose this could be improved by exiting the debugging session on build failure - its possible that some maven output matcher isn't working anymore since those are fragile. Going to add the contribution-welcome label in case anyone is interested in this.