Eclipse

Eclipse

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Eclipse is an open source IDE (Integrated Development Environment) with an extensible plug-in system. While it was initially focused on Java, it supports compiled languages such as C/C++ and interpreted languages such as Perl, Python and PHP and even R.

Introductory reading

IDE (Integrated Development Environment)

Overview

• Eclipse

Installation

1. Navigate to http://www.eclipse.org/downloads/
2. You will find a large number of download options, but since the sytem has an extensible architecture, what you download initially does not constrain what plugins to add in the future. Choices include preconfigured versions for Java or C/C++, or the "Classic" version without plugins. I choose C/C++ to continue. The contents of the packages are compared on http://www.eclipse.org/downloads/compare.php and include
   1. RCP - the Rich client platform: a framework to easily add windows, menus, GUIs and many other extensions to applications.
   2. CVS - Concurrent Versions System: support for a projects code repository, and revision control.
   3. EGit - The Eclipse version of Git: a software source control system that is currently preferred by many over CVS.
   4. 'Mylyn - Mylyn: a task management system that focuses views on a problem on tasks such as feature development or bug tracking.
   5. Linux tools that include memory allocation and speed profiling tools.

Many of these will not be crucial to the one-off programming tasks in our field, but awareness of best practices in professional software engineering , and the potential to use them when required is a clear benefit in any case.

1. Download, uncompress and untar the appropriate file for your system.
2. Open the Eclipse.app to start.
3. Enter http://e-p-i-c.sf.net/updates in the Work with: field and click add.
4. Enter a name for your local repository ... "epic" should work just fine
5. Wait while Eclipse negotiates with the repository. The name will be set to "pending".
6. Once the name EPIC main components appears, check the box and click on Next.

Issues

• I have not found an eclipse version for Mac G5 architecture. If anyone knows of a source I would be much obliged.

Perl Plugin

Once Eclipse , Java and Perl are installed on your system, ...

1. Start Exclipse
2. Use the menu to access Help → Install New Software

Exercises

References

Further reading and resources

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