Plugins

Plugin is a general term used in NetBeans for modules or module suites or packages that can insert themselves with the other NetBeans code and do something cool. Plugins exist in other software/environments, such as Wikis. (Facebook has plugins too (think of the Vampires vs. Warewolves stuff: it's a plugin))

Some people put their plugins online at Plugin Portal Main Page and NetBeans provides a mechanism for adding plugins without having to worry about what they are or where they go. Go to Tools/Plugin, it's pretty intuitive from there. The Plugin Portal has a plugin which allows you to access the Plugin Portal from within NetBeans as opposed to having to go search for plugins online and download them etc. This is a cool plugin to install.

If there is something you really feel should exist in NetBeans (like a LOGGER display), look through the plugins; Someone may have already written one.