What is it?
Eclipse is an open source Java-based platform for integrating
software tools for application development. Its originator, IBM,
has described it as the company's "next-generation tools
integration platform".
Previously concentrating on enterprise application development,
with projects such as the J2EE-focused
Web Tools
Development Platform, this year the Eclipse Foundation is
widening its scope to include embedded systems and Web 2.0
development.
Eclipse is a set of open source community projects, but the
board of the
Eclipse Foundation
includes representatives of IBM, Oracle, BEA, SAP, Borland, HP,
Nokia, and Motorola, among others.
Although conceived as an open standards-based set of frameworks
and tools for building, deploying, and managing Java software,
Eclipse can also be used as an environment for languages such as
C++ and Cobol. Support for other languages will be added this
coming summer. The object is to give developers freedom of choice
in a multi-language, multi-platform, multi-supplier
environment.
Other parallel Eclipse projects include
Business Intelligence
Reporting Tools and
Data Tools platforms.
Where did it originate?
Eclipse was first seen as a replacement for IBM's Visual Age for
Java. "We envisioned the customer's complete development
environment to be composed of a heterogeneous combination of tools
from IBM, the customer's custom toolbox, and third-party tools,"
said IBM.
After creating a new Java integrated development environment
(IDE) with resources from its Object Technology International labs,
IBM attempted to develop it as an open source community project.
However, the fact that it was "owned" by IBM confused potential
users and put off partners and contributors. To guarantee
independence from IBM and other suppliers, the Eclipse Foundation
was set up in 2004 as a not-for-profit organisation with its own
professional staff, supported by dues from member companies.
What's it for?
There are several different "platforms" within Eclipse.
The Web Tools
Platform provides application programming interfaces for J2EE
and web-centric application and web service development and
deployment. It includes source editors for HTML, Javascript, CSS,
JSP, SQL and XML, graphical editors, and database access and query
tools.
The Test and Performance
Tools Platform enables developers to build tools such as
debuggers, profilers and benchmarking applications.
There is also a
Visual Editor
project for creating GUI builders, and a
Modelling Framework
and code generation facility for building tools and other
applications.
What makes it special?
Sometimes described as an IDE, Eclipse actually provides the
functionality from which IDEs can be built. The architecture, based
on component plug-ins, makes it simple to integrate new languages
and tools.
How difficult is it to master?
Eclipse builds on existing language and tool skills.
Where is it used?
It is used in most Java IDEs, except those based on the
Sun-backed Netbeans.
What systems does it run on?
Linux, HP-UX, AIX, Solaris, QNX, Mac OS X, and Windows.
What's coming up?
Following the successful
Callisto
simultaneous release of 10 major Eclipse projects last June,
Eclipse is planning the
Europa
release for this June. Some of the technology is already available,
including versions of the Eclipse Ajax Toolkit Framework and the
Rich Ajax Platform.
The Dynamic Languages
Toolkit extends the use of Eclipse tools and components to
Ruby, Python, Tcl and others. Support for scripting will be added
with Europa. The Eclipse Foundation has also demonstrated its
Standard Widget Toolkit
running on Windows Vista, which is part of a drive to win over
Windows developers.
Training
Links to a range of training resources can be found on the
Eclipse website.
Rates of pay
Salaries for Eclipse developers start at £30,000, though user
organisations include many investment banks, which will offer much
more.
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