Introduction
This chapter Eclipse Overview demonstrates about Eclipse in detail which is an open source Integrated Development Environment (IDE). Eclipse contains an extensible plugin system and a simple Work space for environmental customization. Following are the concepts covered.
- Define Eclipse
- Eclipse Architecture
- Eclipse versions
Definition
Eclipse is best known as an integrated development environment (IDE) which provides some tools for coding, building, running and debugging applications. Eclipse initially supported only for java but now it supports other languages C, C++, PERL, Python, Ruby and PHP etc.
Eclipse is highly customizable. In addition to the layout, user also have control over toolbar, shortcuts, views, and code templates. The code navigation features in Eclipse are extensive. From the high-level outline view to the low-level editor history tracking and it is easy to find the preferred code. In order to become familiar with a new code base, there are additional navigation features that let user to see type hierarchy, as well as navigating to declarations or seeing all uses of a method.
Description
Eclipse platform consists of plug-ins which is base for Eclipse IDE. If plug-in is available, Eclipse can be used as an IDE for any programming language such as C and Python. Plug-in allow the Eclipse platform support typesetting languages like LaTex and provide unrestricted set of tools.
The architecture provide expansion to the environment like configuration management. The third-party Plug-ins are used for supporting version control systems. Except for a little run-time Kernel, everything in Eclipse is a plug-in. This implies each plug-in created incorporates with Eclipse in the very same route as other plug-ins; in this regard, all features are made equivalent.
Conceptual
figure
Eclipse utilizes graphical control elements like SWT (Standard Widget Toolkit) and graphical user interface like JFace. The image below demonstrate the architecture of Eclipse overview.
A huge number of Plug-ins are accessible through third-parties supporting both business and fee models. The Eclipse SDK (Software Development Kit) comprise of JDT (Java Development Tool) which offers an IDE with some Java source files and Java compiler. Eclipse also comprised with PDE (Plug-in Development Environment) which offers some tools to develop, test, debug etc. The IDE utilize work space and also support some refactor methods and code analysis.
Description
Following table demonstrate the Eclipse versions released since 2006 for every annual. From 2008 the versions get released on 4th Wednesday of June and each version contain Eclipse platform and projects.
| Version Name | Year | Platform Version |
|---|---|---|
| Callisto | 2006 | 3.2 |
| Europa | 2007 | 3.3 |
| Ganymede | 2008 | 3.4 |
| Galileo | 2009 | 3.5 |
| Helios | 2010 | 3.6 |
| Indigo | 2011 | 3.7 |
| Juno | 2012 | 3.8 and 4.2 |
| Kepler | 2013 | 4.3 |
| Luna | 2014 | 4.4 |
| Mars | 2015 | 4.5 |
| Neon | 2016 | 4.6 |
Key Points
- The Eclipse architecture provide expansion to the environment like configuration management.
- The Eclipse platform support many programming languages for application development.
- variety of Plug-ins are accessible through third-parties supporting for both business and fee models