Where to install Netbeans

I'm planning on installing Netbeans 7.2.1 on my Ubuntu 12.10. So far I've already installed JDK 7u11 without any problems and already downloaded Netbeans from Oracle site.

My question is this: Where should I install Netbeans? Should I accept the default /usr/local/netbeans-7.2.1 or should I change this path to my /home?

I'm questioning because someone told me not to install it in the default proposed installation path because later on I’ll be more than likely to run into permissions problems down the line. Working with Netbeans I would not have permissions to write in that folder thus disabling me from adding Libraries to my projects, installing and uninstalling plugins to the IDE, and even with Glassfish server configuration.

I've googled in order to cast a light on my doubts to no avail. The only thing I found was this thread at Netbeans forum which brought even some more doubts.

Can anyone help me?

You don't need to run the installer using sudo and you don't need to install it in a system folder, such as /usr/local/. Just run the installer normally and choose to install it in your home directory. If you don't want the netbeans and glassfish folders cluttering up your home folder, you can install them in a sub-folder in your home folder, such as local or Library or whatever.

You will be able to run Netbeans by clicking on the launcher it creates. However, if you want to run it from the command line at all, you will need to add the Netbeans' bin folder to the system path. You can do this by opening your .bashrc file in a text editor and adding this line at the bottom (modified according to where you installed Netbeans):

export PATH=$PATH:~/netbeans-7.2.1/bin

If you are going to be the only user on the machine running NetBeans you should not run installer as a root user.

 $ chmod u+x ~/Downloads/netbeans-7.3rc1-linux.sh
 $  ~/Downloads/netbeans-7.3rc1-linux.sh

You will be prompted to select installation directory defaulting to the user home. Selected installation folder must be writeable by acting user.

For details check NetBeans Community Wiki.

If you are going to have multiple users launching NetBeans from the same installation then you should run installer as root user and select /user/local as installation directory. It should be default choice when prompted.

The NetBeans IDE is engineered to take in account multiple users launching the IDE from the same installation:

NetBeans accommodates this by keeping each user’s personal settings separate from the NetBeans code installation.

On Unix systems, settings are kept in a local settings directory created in the user’s home directory the first time NetBeans is run.

Above quote is from NetBeans: The Definitive Guide.