The Eclipse Ecosystem: Exploring Tools and Plug-ins

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The Eclipse Ecosystem Exploring Tools and
Plug-ins

• David Gallardo

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Agenda

• Overview of Eclipse Architecture
• JDT plug-in examples
• Log4E
• AspectJ
• Omondo EclipseUML
• IDE examples
• MyEclipse
• IBM Rational Application Developer
• CDT
• Developing an Eclipse RCP-based application
• Haystack, BioDash and the Semantic Web
• Some miscellaneous plug-ins
• Games, desk accessories?

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My books

• Java Oracle Database Development
• Eclipse in Action, (lead author)
• Eclipse in Action, 2nd edition due out in
  December
• Preview article, Introducing the Eclipse Visual
  Editor at
• http//www.manning.com/books/gallardo2

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Updates and source code

• Updates for presentation and source code for
  demos are available at
• http//www.gallardo.org

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What is Eclipse?
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What is Eclipse?

• Eclipse is a kind of universal tool platform -
  an open extensible IDE for anything and nothing
  in particular.
• (From http//www.eclipse.org)

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What is Eclipse?

• Eclipse is a kind of universal tool platform -
  an open extensible IDE for anything and nothing
  in particular.
• (From http//www.eclipse.org)

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An Eclipse history lesson

• Based on Visual Age for Java developed by OTI
  Object Technology International (an IBM
  subsidiary)
• Written in Smalltalk
• Source kept in repository (not file system)
• Versioning at method level
• Eclipse is VA4J ported to Java
• Donated to the IBM-created Eclipse Consortium Nov
  2001
• Consortium creates the Eclipse Foundation in Feb
  2004

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Eclipse is language neutral

• Written in Java, but provides language-neutral
  support
• First generalized as and open, extensible IDE
  framework
• Generalized even further, an open, extensible
  application framework

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Visual Age for Java
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Java IDE (JDT)
Eclipse Platform
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Java IDE
Eclipse Platform
C/CIDE
More
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Java IDE
Eclipse RCP
Eclipse Tool Platform
C/CIDE
More
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The Eclipse approach

• Generalize Build a framework
• Develop a reference implementation--e.g. JDT
• Other examples
• Team support (CVS, ClearCase, Subversion, VSS)
• Visual Editor (Swing/AWT, SWT, ?)

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CVS
Team
Subversion
More
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Swing/AWT
Visual Editor
SWT
More
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What is Eclipse?

• Its a floorwax AND its a dessert topping!

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What is Eclipse?

• Its a floorwax AND its a dessert topping!
• Just kidding!
• Its a framework and a reference implementation

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What is Eclipse?

• An open and extensible application framework
  The Rich Client Platform

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What is Eclipse?

• An open and extensible application framework
  The Rich Client Platform
• A open tool platform for developing extensible
  IDEs

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What is Eclipse?

• An open and extensible application framework
  The Rich Client Platform
• A open tool platform for developing extensible
  IDEs
• An extensible IDE, especially the Java
  Development Toolkit, built using the Eclipse
  Platform

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SWT

• A replacement for Swing/AWT
• AWT controls were native, but took lowest-common
  denominator approach to achieve cross-platform
  compatibility
• Swing emulated controls dont always match
  platform
• Swing controls performed poorly relative to
  native controls
• SWT took a hybrid approach
• Thin layer over native controls
• Emulated controls where native controls for a
  particular platform arent available
• SWT applications have the look responsiveness
  of native applications
• SWT is relatively simple and easy to use

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JFace

• Platform-independent framework built on top of
  SWT, which supplements SWT
• Adds features similar to those in Swing,
  particularly data models and pre-built
  components, that SWT lacks
• Viewer classes
• Dialogs and wizards
• Also some JFace specials
• Actions and contributions
• Image and font registries

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Essential components for an RCP application
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The complete RCP framework
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A complete RCP application
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An Eclipse-based IDE
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Extending an IDE with plug-ins
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Eclipse open-source licensing

• Eclipse licensed under Common Public License
• Open Source Initiative compliant license
• Open-source but non-viral, unlike GNU
• Different parts can be covered by different
  licenses
• Free stuff must remain free
• Additions can be protected

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Commercial-friendly open-source

• Allows co-mingling of open-source and
  commercially developed code
• Basic functionality becomes a shared commodity
  and is developed once
• Competition occurs at a higher level

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Some SWT apps

• Azureus - Bittorrent client that is one of the
  most popular apps on SourceForge.
• SQL Admin - Java client application to connect
  and send queries to different databases through
  JDBC.
• RSSOwl - Platform-independent application to
  gathers, organize, update, and store information
  from any RSS-compliant site.

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RCP benefits

• Framework for menus, toolbars, views, and
  perspectives
• Help
• Plug-in basedextensible
• Remote update
• Proven scaleable and extensible applications

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Some open-source RCP apps

• BIRT - reporting system for web applications,
  especially those based on Java and J2EE
• GumTree - Multi-platform scientific workbench for
  performing scientific experiment under a
  server-client environment.
• Schoolclipse - An Eclipse RCP application for
  private school management.
• uDig GIS - Desktop Internet GIS providing a
  graphical interface to OGC standard internet
  mapping servers (WMS, WFS), local data files, and
  spatial databases.

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Some commercial RCP apps

• IBM Workplace Managed Client - Server-managed
  access to messaging, documents, instant
  messaging, Activity Explorer, productivity tools,
  and data access.
• XMFMosaic - Next generation meta-modelling tool
  and meta-programming environment.
• ITscope Marketviewer - Catalogue and purchasing
  software for business to business relations in
  the IT sector.

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Eclipse Java IDE plug-ins

• Visual Editor
• AspectJ
• Log4E
• Omondo EclipseUML

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Eclipse Java IDE plug-ins

• Eclipse Visual Editor
• Eclipse AspectJ
• Eclipse Web Tools
• Sysdeo Tomcat
• Omondo EclipseUML
• Log4E
• EclipseColorer

• Subclipse (subversion)
• VSS
• Call Hierarchy View
• EclipseProfiler
• FreeMem
• Hibernate Synchronizer
• Spring IDE

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Even more Eclipse plug-ins

• Clock
• Games, including Tetris and Minesweeper
• Email
• MP3 players
• RSS readers
• (Just like EMACS, you can live inside Eclipse!)

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Eclipse-based IDEs

• Rational Application Developer (the former
  Websphere Studio Application Developer)
• MyEclipse
• JBoss IDE
• Borland JBuilder (2006?)

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For more info

• RCP applications
• http//www.eclipse.org/community/rcp.html
• Eclipse plugins
• http//www.eclipseplugincentral.com/
• http//eclipse-plugins.info/
• More
• http//www.eclipse.org/community