What are the differences, specifically, between the Java EE and RCP versions of Eclipse?
And how would one essentially get a "combined" version that includes all the best goodies for plugin development along with the best tools for Java EE?
I think what I'm looking for is the ability to create a "merged" instance entirely through the p2 updater. For example, if I open up a Java EE instance of Eclipse, open a java file, hit alt-shift-f1 to bring up plugin spy, and then click on "compilationuniteditor" to view the source of the java editor, I get .class. But in the RCP version, I get the source. How do I get those things in the Java EE editor using the normal Eclipse update mechanism? That's my goal here. What plugins in update manager contain what "essential bits" for each distribution.
Another example is installing all the Examples plugins. In the RCP distribution, you can easily install them from the "Welcome" page. So how, in the Java EE distribution, could you do the same thing?
The problem I'm trying to solve here is that I want to get away from maintaining two separate instances of Eclipse, since I do a fair amount of work in both RCP (for plugin development) and in Java EE (for webservice stuff, etc).
I started with the Eclipse for RCP Developers and used the "Help > Install New Software..." Feature to add in the "Web, XML, and Java EE Development" tools from the "Galileo" update site.
You may want to be a little choosier than I was and maybe exclude the "Rich Ajax Platform" and possibly the "PHP Development Tools" Features from the category.
It's better to use the "Install New Software" feature than to try and merge directories. The dependencies can be fairly complex and troubleshooting a merged directory can be a nightmare. Let p2 do the heavy lifting.
You can get a full comparison of all eclipse distros here.
Basically, the J2EE one includes the RCP ones, except for the fact that the RCP has the sources of some plugins, and not just their binaries.
To get a mix of the two, load them both, unzip them, and then compare the content of plugins and features sub-directories of both installations (with WinMerge for instance).
Copy any extra RCP files into the J2EE directories, and that should be enough.
From my understanding, the Java EE version comes with plugins for developing java programs whereas the RCP version includes the minimum number of plugins to build a rich client application.
These links should help:
http://wiki.eclipse.org/RCP_FAQ
http://wiki.eclipse.org/index.php/Rich_Client_Platform
Related
I have downloaded a new Eclipse Kepler IDE yesterday and I am unable to find the dynamic web project template and all other related files in there like jsp file, servlet etc. This means I am unable to create these files directly by choosing from wizard, like I was doing in Eclipse Helios. Also, it's not possible to run the previous projects that were built using Eclipse Helios? Does Kepler support web projects or not, or am I the only one who is struggling with this problem? I am using java since two weeks now, so I don't have much experience with other Eclipse versions too. Any help?
Sounds like you got the wrong distribution. You probably want the "Eclipse for Java EE developers" distribution, since that includes web development tools etc. by default.
Here is a picture of my environment and I am unable to create JSP files, I am not sure what I am missing let me know what I can answer to get a resolution. Thanks.
If anyone is having this issue with Sring Starter Project in Spring Tool Suite 4:
Help -> Install New Software -> WorkWith Spring Tool Suite 4
Scroll to bottom and select :
Web, XML, Java EE and OSGi Enterprise Development
You are probably using the standard version of eclipse. (As you are using the default "Java" perspective, not "Java EE".)
The solution would be to download the version of eclipse that has Java EE support. This version will enable you to create Servlets, JSPs and many more through wizards (that's what you seem to be looking for).
Get the current version (Juno SR2) of Eclipse IDE for Java EE Developers here: http://www.eclipse.org/downloads/packages/eclipse-ide-java-ee-developers/junosr2 (choose the version according to your system in a box called Download Links at the right-side of the page).
The wizard will be available then. Also, don't forget to change the perspective to Java EE (in a button at the top of the right-hand side of you eclipse), as it will show your web projects in a better organized way.
I've been using Eclipse Classic for developing applications in Java installing plugins as I need. Now I'm thinking to develop an application using Eclipse RCP UI. I've read some tutorials online but they suggest to use Eclipse for RCP/RAP developers.
I've looked at this Eclipse Packages Compare page but I haven't quite figured out why I can't use Eclipse Classic to develop Eclipse RCP applications.
What plugins do I have to install to use Eclipse Classic for Eclipse RCP application development?
There is very little (practical) difference between those two packages. Classic (AKA, Eclipse SDK) includes more source code for the Eclipse bundles themselves, such as JDT and PDE, which can actually be useful when developing your own plugins and RCP apps); RCP/RAP obviously includes RAP, which is critical if you need it but pointless if you don't. RCP also includes EGit (again, nice if you need it) and the XML Tools.
I often start with the SDK (Classic) package and add stuff as I need it. There has even been talk of dropping the RCP package altogether, although it still hangs around.
What plugins do I have to install to use Eclipse Classic for Eclipse RCP application development?
Trust me, you're much better off unziping Eclipse for RCP/RAP developers in a different directory, and using that to develop your RCP application.
You're lucky that adding Eclipse plug-ins to your Eclipse Classic hasn't destroyed your Java development environment.
HI all,
I have Eclipse installed with PDT (PHP Development tools).
I want to program in Java and C++, do I have to download whole Eclipse JDT and Eclipse CDT again, and have separate installations, or can I install "plugins" to handle Java and C++ ?
Thanks
Yes you can install the plugins into the same Eclipse installation. For Helios you can use the Update manager Help->Install New Software then select the Helios site and select C/C++ in Programming Lagnuages and so on. If there's something else you need you need to get the update URL and add a new site.
You can have one eclipse with all the plugins (and perspective). But that's tedious:
you'll have to find the plugin jars for each of the 'suites' and place it in the plugins dir. Sometimes they might not have an update site url
some plugins cause problems, sometimes mixing certain plugins cause problems - in short, the more plugins, the more likely your environment will crash
The way I'd suggest is to have a separate eclipse installation for each task. I myself have 3, for different sort of java development (one java, one flex, one for specific project with specific plugins)
Eclipse itself is perfectly stable and capable of supporting quite a lot of plugins. However if you are unlucky to need "crappy" plugins, there the problems being.
There're so many Eclipse editions.
I don't know well in structure of Eclipse IDE, but as I know, Eclipse is basically an empty frame for strong plug-ins. This means there should be an empty shell edition, but I couldn't find it. Most basic editions already contain many tools in it.
Where is it? And how can I obtain it?
I think you're referring to the Rich Client Platform? You'll need to download the RCP SDK to get started, then when the time comes to deploy check out the FAQ for what you need.
As mention in the recent serie "Eclipse is…", Eclipse is a bit more than "an empty frame for strong plug-ins". It is also:
A Java IDE;
An IDE Framework;
A Tools Framework;
An Application Framework;
Runtimes;
Open Source Projects;
A Community;
An Eco-system;
A Foundation; and
More?
You can see all the Helios packages (distributions) here, the smallest one being the Eclipse IDE for Java Developers (99MB).
You can compare those packages in term of content.
Only the RCP edition would allow you to build a minimal RCP application, like the one presented in this RCP tutorial:
alt text http://www.vogella.de/articles/EclipseRCP/images/firstrcp70.gif
I think you are referring to the platform runtime binary, available here : http://download.eclipse.org/eclipse/downloads/drops/R-3.6-201006080911/index.php
From eclipse download page, click "other downloads" next to eclipse classic, and then click "3.6" on the next page.