Installing the ECLIPSE IDE and Components

Begin Here History Components Architecture Feature Summary Installing Eclipse Java Demo C++ Demo Learn More Wrap Up

Simple Installation of Eclipse IDE on any platform:

1. Download Eclipse distribution for your computer platform
2. Unpack the distribution into a file system folder (e.g., Program Files/Eclipse)
3. Make sure that your system has Java Run-Time Environment installed
   
4. Create desktop shortcut to eclipse.exe in that folder
5. Start the application, specify a default workspace for software projects
1. Eclipse keeps these separate from your actual source code files
6. Install any desired additional Eclipse components
1. Also known as 'Plug-ins'
2. Examples: C/C++ Software Development , Database Development, Web tools
   

Installing Eclipse Plug-ins:  

1. The Hard Way: (as described in Eclipse cookbook)
1.  Download, unpack, connect (register) plug-in with the Eclipse environment
2. Subject to 'quirks': manually registering plugin with Eclipse is problematic
   
2. The Easy Way: Eclipse Update Manager
1. Help -> Software Updates -> Find and Install
   
3. Use the Hard Way only when developing new plug ins on your local system

Example: Install the C++ Plug-in on the MAC OS/X platform