The title of this chapter is a little misleading because there isn't just one Integrated Development Environment (IDE), there are in fact two. They are both fully functional and either one can be used to create applications.
The first and original option is called the BlackBerry Java Development Environment or JDE for short. The JDE is a custom development environment created by RIM for the sole purpose of developing applications in Java for BlackBerry handhelds. This customized nature is both good and bad. On the one hand, you have an environment where you can do everything you need to do, and nothing more, which can lead to a concise and simple environment. On the other hand, simplicity also means lack of power, and some users may find this to be frustrating.
The second option is to use the BlackBerry Eclipse plugin. Eclipse is an open source IDE that has become the de facto industry standard for Java development. There is a large maintenance team and new features...