Written by two world class programmers and software designers, this guide explains how to extend Eclipse for software projects and how to use Eclipse to create software tools that improve development time.

This book gives a detailed introduction into the Eclipse platform and covers all relevant aspects of Eclipse RCP development. Every topic in this book has a content section in which the topic is explained and afterwards you have several exercises to practice your learning. You will be guided through all relevant aspects of Eclipse 4 development using an comprehensive example which you continue to extend in the exercises. You will learn about the new programming concepts of Eclipse 4, e.g. the application model, dependency injection, CSS styling, the renderer framework, the event system and much more. Proven Eclipse technologies like SWT, JFace viewers, OSGi modularity and services, data binding, etc. are also covered in detail. This book requires a working knowledge of Java and assumes that you are familiar in using the Eclipse IDE for standard Java development. It assumes no previous experience of Eclipse plug-in and Eclipse RCP development.

"A concise introduction to Eclipse for the productive programmer." --

The Definitive Guide to Eclipse Rich Client Development In Eclipse Rich Client Platform, Second Edition, three Eclipse Rich Client Platform (RCP) project leaders show how to use Eclipse 3.5 (“Galileo”) to rapidly deliver cross-platform applications with rich, native-feel GUIs. The authors fully reveal the power of Eclipse as a desktop application development platform; introduce important new improvements in Eclipse 3.5; and walk through developing a full-featured, branded RCP application for Windows, Linux, Mac, and other platforms—including handheld devices and kiosks. Drawing on their extensive experience, the authors cover building, refining, and refactoring prototypes; customizing user interfaces; adding help and software management features; and building, branding, testing, and shipping finished software. They demonstrate current best practices for developing modular and dynamically extensible systems, using third-party code libraries, packaging applications for diverse environments, and much more. For Java programmers at all levels of experience, this book Introduces important new RCP features such as p2, Commands, and Databinding Thoroughly covers key RCP-related technologies such as Equinox, SWT, JFace, and OSGi Shows how to effectively brand and customize RCP application look-and-feel Walks through user interface testing for RCP applications with SWTBot Illuminates key similarities and differences between RCP and conventional plug-in development Hands-on, pragmatic, and comprehensive, this book offers all the real-world, nontrivial code examples working developers need—as well as “deep dives” into key technical areas that are essential to your success.

The definitive (and only) introduction to Aspect-Oriented Programming (AOP) using Eclipse and ASpectJ.

Producing a commercial-quality plug-in means going above and beyond the minimal requirements needed to integrate with Eclipse. It means attending to all those details that contribute to the “fit and polish” of a commercial offering. This comprehensive guide covers the entire process of plug-in development, including all the extra steps needed to achieve the highest quality results. Building on two internationally best-selling previous editions, Eclipse Plug-ins, Third Edition, has been fully revised to reflect the powerful new capabilities of Eclipse 3.4. Leading Eclipse experts Eric Clayberg and Dan Rubel present detailed, practical coverage of every aspect of plug-in development, as well as specific, proven solutions for the challenges developers are most likely to encounter. All code examples, relevant API listings, diagrams, and screen captures have been thoroughly updated to reflect both the Eclipse 3.4 API and the latest Java syntax. In addition, Clayberg and Rubel have completely revamped their popular Favorites View case study, reworking much of its content and recreating its code from scratch. The authors carefully cover new functionality added to existing Eclipse features, such as views and editors, and fully explain brand-new features such as Commands, GEF, and PDE Build. This extensively revised edition Thoroughly covers Eclipse’s new preferences Illuminates the powerful new Eclipse Command Framework, which replaces Eclipse’s older Action Framework Presents extensive new discussions of using commands with views and editors Introduces Mylyn, the new task-focused interface that reduces information overload and simplifies multi-tasking Contains an all-new chapter on using the Graphical Editing Framework (GEF) to build dynamic, interactive graphical user interface elements Walks you step by step through the entire PDE Build process Shows how to create update sites with p2, which replaces Eclipse’s old Update Manager This book is designed for every experienced developer interested in extending the Eclipse platform, the Rational Software Development Platform, or any other platform that supports Eclipse plug-ins.

Develop skills to build powerful plug-ins with Eclipse IDE through examples About This Book Create useful plug-ins to make Eclipse work for you Learn how to migrate Eclipse 3.x plug-ins to Eclipse 4.x From automation to testing, find out how to get your IDE performing at an impressive standard Who This Book Is For This book is for Java developers familiar with Eclipse who need more from the IDE. This book will sharpen your confidence and make you a more productive developer with a tool that supports rather than limits you. What You Will Learn Create plug-ins for Eclipse 4.x Test plug-ins automatically with JUnit Display tree and table information in views Upgrade Eclipse 3.x plug-ins to Eclipse 4.x Find out how to build user interfaces from SWT and JFace Run tasks in the background and update the user interface asynchronously Automate builds of plug-ins and features Automate user interface tests with SWTBot In Detail Eclipse is used by everyone from indie devs to NASA engineers. Its popularity is underpinned by its impressive plug-in ecosystem, which allows it to be extended to meet the needs of whoever is using it. This book shows you how to take full advantage of the Eclipse IDE by building your own useful plug-ins from start to finish. Taking you through the complete process of plug-in development, from packaging to automated testing and deployment, this book is a direct route to quicker, cleaner Java development. It may be for beginners, but we're confident that you'll develop new skills quickly. Pretty soon you'll feel like an expert, in complete control of your IDE. Don't let Eclipse define you - extend it with the plug-ins you need today for smarter, happier, and more effective development. Style and approach Packed with plenty of examples so you're never stuck, or never left simply reading instructions, this book encourages you to get started immediately. This book is for developers who want to develop, not just learn.