Visual objects editor

Question

I am looking for a tool which will make able to edit parts of Java code visually using something like inspector and place code back.

For example:

Person p = new Person();
p.setName("Bill Libb");
p.setAge(25);

This code should be generated from visual inspector and copied into Java IDE.

This will help quickly create sample objects for testing.

Pros of this approach:

1. Don't need to think what can be changed in object - you see what properties available to change immediately.

2. You don't need to code setting properties - just type the value in the appropriate inspector property.

3. You have a new way of defining/describing object which gives a feeling more that you working with objects rather than with code.

Answer 1

It wouldn't be a GUI tool, but you could easily use reflection to create a program that outputs a properties file with placeholders for a given class's get/set methods. Then you could edit the template property file and load it back in at test time. That way all you need is a text editor, and you could script the creation or population of data in all sorts of interesting ways.

Answer 2

Have you looked at Naked Objects?