You can do that, too. [Eclipse tutorial class]

Today we had a class session dedicated to installing and running Eclipse environment for the first time.

It reminded me of my non-IT friends and relatives. They usually come to me and ask to help with tuning their iPods, laptops, DVD players and things like smart programmable dishwashers. When I try to say that I have no idea how those things work they reply with "But you work with computers! You can do that; it must be easy for you!"

No, it's not easy for me. In fact, when I start to work with a complex software, like Eclipse, Rational Rose, Lotus Apps and so on I really appreciate that I've being tough of what to do step by step (or click by click).

And that was exactly how our Eclipse organized. First, we were given a tutorial of what to download and how to write our first Java EE Web Project Application.

The tutorial is very detailed but still missing some "click here and there". So here are the instructions how to go through the tutorial click by click.

First, download everything.

a) Download and save this file in C:\IBM\Eclipse_Base, unzip it.

b) Download and save those files in C:\IBM\WTP_Builds/3.1, unzip them (Yes to All).
Eclipse Platform (Platform, JDT) - file: eclipse-SDK-3.5M2-win32.zip
EMF v2.5 Runtime Minimum executable code - file: emf-runtime-2.5.0M2.zip
EMF XSD v2.5 Runtime Minimum executable code - file: xsd-runtime-2.5.0M2.zip
Graphical Editing Framework (GEF) - file: GEF-SDK-3.5.0M2.zip
Data Tools Platform (DTP) (required only for EJB or JPT development) - file: dtp-sdk_1.6.1.zip

Very important file: the non-SDK package wtp

The reason I'm giving an exact links is that we had bugs for those. You have to download fresher (or stable) version, where those bugs are probably fixed.

Ok, you've downloaded, saved and unzipped.

1) cd C:\IBM\WTP_Builds\3.1\Eclipse
run eclipse.exe
define your workspace ./wrksp/Oct1

2) In your Eclipse (all the steps starting from this one will be done in Eclipse) do the following: Window -> Open Perspectives -> Other -> Java EE -> OK

3) Close the Welcome Screen

4) Window -> Preferences -> Server -> Runtime Environment -> Add Apache Tomcat 6.0 -> Download and install -> C:\Temp
At this point with the version S-3.5M2-200809180100 you'll be getting CRC errors during the installation. To fix that click ok, go back to Window -> Preferences -> Server and repeat all steps. After 2-4 repeats you'll get through and get Finish button available. Click it.

5) Bottom menu -> Select Servers -> Right click on it -> New Server -> Apache TomCat 6.0 at localhost -> OK

6) File -> New -> Dynamic Web Project -> name it, click Finish

You'll get an error message "Failed while installing Dynamic Web Module 2.5".

At this point you cannot proceed. If you want to fix that, download this file in C:\IBM\WTP_Builds\3.1\, unzip -> Yes to all.

Close Eclipse, open it again, repeat steps 1-6.

7) Right click on your project name -> New servlet -> Name it -> OK

8) Code your doGet method

9) Run -> Run Configurations -> Apache Tomcat 6.0 at localhost -> Run or
Right click on servlet file -> Run As -> Server (select Apache Tomcat 6.0 at localhost) -> Finish

10) It runs!

If you want to have a working version of Eclipse, go with the stable version

If you want to develop something for Eclipse, download a fresh nightly build

Good luck and congratulations on your first Eclipse project ;)