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

Eclipse is an Integrated Development Environment (IDE)

• Includes tools for all stages of software development process
• Graphical User Interface integrates and controls the toolset
• Contrast to 'command line-based' software development
• Project-oriented approach: 
• Project 'state' is retained between programming sessions
• Key software flags, parameters kept in a persistent project file 

Eclipse Project History:

• 1998 - 2001 IBM-Lead consortium of software companies developed Eclipse Ver 1.0
• IBM spends $40 million on development
• Related Product: IBM Visual Age IDE
  
• Eclipse Version 1.0 released November 2001

Present Day Eclipse

• Current Eclipse Version is 3.2.1
• Largest user community: Java developers
• Other languages (C/C++, PHP) available
  
• Eclipse is FREE, distributed under a Common Public Licence (CPL)
• Intended to encourage commercial distribution of Eclipse-related software tools