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All integrated development environments (IDEs) share similarities because they're all built for the same purpose. But they have differences, too. Some of these can be attributed to application domains, but others result from the IDE design.
Obviously, Microsoft Visual Studio and Eclipse differ: The Java™ programming language is different from C/C++/.NET, and Java was the first language supported by Eclipse. The two are also different because Eclipse aims to be an IDE for "everything and nothing in particular," introducing more generic and customizable features. Eclipse is also available on more operating systems. However, our intent is not to enumerate all the differences between Eclipse and Visual Studio.
Without being too philosophic about IDE design, this article presents the main differences between these IDEs. It's intended for anybody who has been using Visual Studio for a while and is beginning to use Eclipse. This article doesn't teach Java programming in Eclipse and doesn't focus on Java-specific features (a good tutorial is listed in Resources). Rather, it discusses the differences in general.
Generally speaking, the Eclipse workspace serves the same purpose as a Visual Studio solution: It organizes top-level projects, folders, and files in a hierarchical structure. However, there are some major differences. A Visual Studio solution merely lists the projects it contains with their interdependencies, configurations, version-control information, etc.
The Eclipse workspace does much more than that. It manages most of the nonproject information, such as global preferences, windows layout, and search and navigation history. Eclipse can't start without a workspace, and you can't close a workspace the same way you can close a Visual Studio solution. Although it is possible to switch workspaces in Eclipse, many users use a single workspace that contains all their projects.
Eclipse projects differ from Visual Studio projects in the way they interact with the underlying filesystem. In Visual Studio, a project isn't strongly connected to its layout on the filesystem: You can add a file from c:\temp\ to a project located in d:\work, and Visual Studio records the reference to a new file and opens it like any other file. Folders (like "header files") don't correspond to filesystem folders (internally, such folders are called filters).
In Eclipse, the structure of a project's elements must correspond to their layout in the underlying filesystem. For example, if the Eclipse project HelloWorld (see Figure 1) is located at c:\eclipse\workspace\HelloWorld, then README.TXT is located at c:\eclipse\workspace\HelloWorld\src\README.TXT.
Figure 1. A simple HelloWorld project
Eclipse also wants to be in sync with the files under the project directory. If you delete a file or a folder in Eclipse, it disappears from the filesystem. However, when you add or delete the same file using Windows® Explorer, the related resource in Eclipse becomes out of sync, which may upset Eclipse during some operations. In such a case, you should manually refresh the project by choosing Refresh from the project's right-click menu. You can tell Eclipse to automatically synchronize with the filesystem by selecting Refresh automatically option in the Eclipse preferences.
Linking resources into Eclipse
The strict workspace structure was how things began. Although projects could be stored outside the workspace directory, early Eclipse versions couldn't even open an external file (today, you choose File > Open File). UNIX® users were lucky because they could emulate a flexible project structure using symbolic links, but Windows users didn't have such privileges. Today, Eclipse supports linked resources at the IDE level.
Linked resources in Eclipse behave much like UNIX symbolic links. For example, to add a large test input file to the project without copying it from its original location, choose File > New > File, and, in the window that opens, click Advanced (see Figure 2). After they're added, linked resources are decorated with a small arrow over their icons (see Figure 3).
Figure 2. Adding a linked file
Figure 3. Linked file in the HelloWorld project
Tip: Using linked resources to improve performance
Linked folders can be useful when you're dealing with large projects that reside on remote locations, such as file servers or ClearCase dynamic views. Although source files can benefit from being properly backed up and otherwise managed, there are few reasons to store the generated .class files on such remote storage. In projects with more than a few hundred source files, you can dramatically improve the performance of many operations if you store the generated files on the local machine.
In Visual Studio C++ projects, you can improve build performance by setting the intermediate directory to a local location. In Eclipse, you can achieve the same effect by using a linked output folder that points to a directory on the local machine.
See Resources for additional information, including how to use variables to define platform-dependent link targets, such as using a temporary directory at /tmp on UNIX and at c:\temp on Windows.
Reducing clutter with working sets
As mentioned, many developers load all their projects into a single Eclipse workspace. It's convenient, but it can sometimes create too much clutter. In addition to closing unnecessary projects, you can define working sets: groups of elements (projects, folders, classes, etc.). Eclipse can use working sets in different views (such as Package Explorer) and operations (like searching). See Resources for additional information.
One of Eclipse's coolest features — and one that Visual Studio doesn't have — is the local history. Each time you change a file, class, or method, Eclipse records the change in its local history. Then, you can compare a file to what it was a few minutes, hours, or days ago. If a file is deleted, invoking Restore from Local History from its parent's context menu can bring it back.
The local history isn't a version-control replacement. It's more like a super-undo engine with configurable limits for the number of history days and the allotted storage capacity.
Contrary to the Visual Studio approach, in which a project has a single project type (C++/C#/J#), Eclipse projects can have zero, one, or multiple natures. For example, Java projects in Eclipse have a Java nature, and Dynamic Web projects (created using Eclipse WTP; see Resources) have a Java and a (metaphoric) Web nature. A project nature defines a list of builders that run when the project is being built. For example, the Java nature adds a builder that compiles Java source files into .class files, and the Web nature adds a builder that validates the XML and HTML files.
Building projects automatically
At their first encounter with Eclipse, many look for the Build command. But to their surprise, either they can't find it or they find it's disabled.
That's because unlike Visual Studio and some other IDEs, Eclipse has an automatic
build feature. In Java projects, every time a Java file is modified, Eclipse
compiles the relevant files, including files indirectly affected by the
change. Automatic build is a great way to quickly discover compilation errors that
affect other files. Many operations, such as Java search, rely on these build results.
Often — mainly for C++ projects — Visual Studio projects use custom build steps to perform nonstandard build tasks. Custom build commands are plain command-line instructions in Visual Studio projects. Eclipse, on the other hand, can run stand-alone programs and Ant build scripts. For example, you can use an Ant script to build and deploy a Java Archive (JAR) file containing the project's classes whenever a project is rebuilt. An editor for Ant's build.xml files is included.
You can configure custom project builders on the Builders page in the project's properties window, and you can define and run global scripts by choosing Run > External Tools.
Eclipse doesn't have the notion of startup projects, as does Visual Studio. The difference can be attributed to language differences, but Visual Studio further restricts its users by generating a single executable per project and allowing different launch parameters, such as command-line arguments, only for different project configurations. Managing multiple configurations just for the sake of having different command-line arguments is a bad idea in most situations.
Eclipse uses launch configurations to collect the parameters used to launch an
application. For Java programs, the main class name and the command-line arguments are
such parameters. You can have separate launch configurations for any class with a main() method in the project. A new configuration is automatically
created when you launch an application with a new main class using the Run > Run
As command. You can also use the Run window (Run > Run) to create and
delete launch configurations.
By default, launch configurations are local to the workspace and aren't part of the project, which means they aren't shared with other team members. To save the launch configuration in the project, use the Common tab of the Run window, as shown below.
Figure 4. Changing the location of launch configuration
Eclipse has no debug mode — just the Debug perspective you can switch to and from. The main Debug view lists all the programs being run or debugged and lets you debug several programs at the same time, which is a little more difficult to do in Visual Studio. Read "Debugging with the Eclipse Platform" (see Resources) to learn more about the debugging features Eclipse has to offer.
In addition to being a great free open source Java IDE, the most important feature of Eclipse — which accounts for much of its success — is its open extensibility architecture. Most Eclipse features can be extended or are accepting contributions from plug-ins. In fact, many Eclipse features use the same extensibility architecture that is available for the general public.
The business-friendly open source license Eclipse uses encourages the development of commercial and open source plug-ins. No wonder more than 800 plug-ins are listed on the official plug-in marketplace at Eclipse Plugin Central.
In addition to plug-ins, which integrate into an existing Eclipse installation, some companies have built full-featured IDEs on top of Eclipse, including all IBM® Rational® tools, CodeGear JBuilder 2007, and Genuitec MyEclipse. Typically, these products offer tools for modeling, Web development, and visual design. See Resources for products and plug-in directories.
The basic Eclipse software development kit (SDK) contains only the Java IDE. Toolkits for other languages (C/C++, PHP), modeling tools, and additional extensions are being developed under the Eclipse umbrella and can be installed as Eclipse plug-ins. See Resources for more information about Europa, the latest simultaneous release of the top 21 Eclipse projects in 2007, and Callisto, the previous release of top 10 projects in June 2006.
Whenever you download Eclipse for the first time or as an upgrade, you get a plain compressed file you extract into an empty directory, with no installer to perform any configuration or to create a desktop shortcut. However, for plug-ins, Eclipse has the Update Manager (Help > Software Updates), which manages both installations and updates. It can also enable and disable plug-ins, similar to what the Add-in Manager does in Visual Studio.
The Update Manager installs or updates plug-ins from update sites (either local or on the Web). To install new plug-ins, you must find the update site URL on the vendor's Web site and manually enter it in the Update Manager window. (Some vendors have built full-featured installers that interact with the update manager behind the scenes.)
To a lesser extent, Eclipse supports installing plug-ins by manually copying them into the appropriate directories. This method isn't recommended, and it can cause inconsistency in the Eclipse configuration. See "Basic troubleshooting" for more information.
If you're new to Eclipse, you'll probably have some questions. And after using it for a while, you may discover a couple of bugs or may wish to suggest new features. This section surveys the different support options.
Everybody knows that sometimes, the IDE can misbehave. With Visual Studio, you can
reset everything to the factory state by typing devenv
/setup at the command prompt. Eclipse provides a similar command-line switch.
Running eclipse.exe -clean at the command line rebuilds most
information about the installed plug-ins. The -clean option
may be useful if you've installed a new plug-in and it refuses to show up.
When Eclipse misbehaves, you may also want to check the error log. To open the Error Log view, choose Window > Show View > Error Log. The raw log is located in the <workspace dir>/.metadata/.log file.
If you've been working with Microsoft products, you know that you can get help on the Microsoft Developer Network (MSDN) forums and newsgroups. The Eclipse community has its own newsgroups (see Resources), and many Eclipse regulars are there to help you out.
Report bugs and ask for new features
Unlike the Microsoft feedback feature on the Microsoft Connect Web site, which is aimed at providing customer support, Eclipse Bugs is the actual bug-tracking system used by Eclipse developers. With Eclipse Bugs, you can not only search, report and vote on bugs but also add yourself as a CC on somebody else's bug, see who is assigned to fix it, learn the version in which it should be fixed, and much more. You can post feature requests using the same interface (see Resources).
In addition to the open source spirit of Eclipse Bugs and community help, some companies need a commercial level of support for their development teams. If you purchase a product that is built on top of Eclipse, its vendor should provide support for the product, including the underlying Eclipse components. If you use the basic Eclipse SDK, you can check the IBM Rational Elite Support for Eclipse program with a worldwide 24x7x365 support plan.
We have discussed how Eclipse approaches some common IDE principles and tasks. The workspace-centric approach and project structure on one hand and the great flexibility of the UI design and launch configurations on the other make Eclipse unique in its IDE design. And the open-extensibility architecture makes Eclipse a platform for a great variety of third-party plug-ins and products.
If you haven't done so yet, read the "Eclipse for Visual Studio developers" tutorial (see Resources), which gives a good introduction to Java development in Eclipse. However, Eclipse isn't all about the Java programming language. Check the Callisto and Europa releases for additional Eclipse projects, such as the C++ IDE. Then visit Eclipse Plugin Central and download some popular Eclipse plug-ins.
Learn
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Eclipse.org is the home of the Eclipse project.
You can use direct links to Eclipse Bugs and
Eclipse project development.
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The tutorial "Eclipse for
Visual Studio developers" is a general introduction to Eclipse and a tutorial about
creating your first Java program in Eclipse
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"Migrate Visual Studio
C and C++ projects to Eclipse CDT" discusses C/C++ with Eclipse.
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The Eclipse Foundation's most recent changes to Eclipse have been in the form of
"release trains," which are simultaneous releases of updates to the Eclipse Platform
and key projects. Learn more about the October 2006 release in "What's hot in Eclipse
V3.2 Callisto" and the June 2007 release in "A
whirlwind tour of Eclipse Europa."
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Learn more about "Debugging with the Eclipse Platform."
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Creating
linked resources explains how to use variables to create platform-independent target locations.
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Visit the Eclipse.org documentation to learn about using working sets.
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Check out the "Recommended Eclipse reading list."
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Browse all the Eclipse content on developerWorks.
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New to Eclipse? Read the developerWorks article "Get started with Eclipse Platform" to learn its origin and architecture, and how to extend Eclipse with plug-ins.
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Expand your Eclipse skills by checking out IBM developerWorks' Eclipse project resources.
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To listen to interesting interviews and discussions for software developers, check out developerWorks podcasts.
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Stay current with developerWorks' Technical events and webcasts.
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Watch and learn about IBM and open source technologies and product functions with the no-cost developerWorks On demand demos.
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Check out upcoming conferences, trade shows, webcasts, and other Events around the world that are of interest to IBM open source developers.
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Visit the developerWorks Open source zone for extensive how-to information, tools, and project updates to help you develop with open source technologies and use them with IBM's products.
Get products and technologies
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Eclipse Plugin Central (EPIC) is the official
source for Eclipse plug-ins, but more plug-in directories are also available throught
the Eclipse Portals.
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Get Rational Application Developer for WebSphere Software.
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Get CodeGear JBuilder 2007.
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Download the MyEclipse IDE from Genuitec.
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Check out the Eclipse Web Tools
Platform (WTP) Project.
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Visit IBM
Rational Elite Support for Eclipse.
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Check out some useful tools by Instantiations.
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Check out the latest Eclipse technology downloads at IBM alphaWorks.
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Download Eclipse Platform and other projects from the Eclipse Foundation.
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Download IBM product evaluation versions, and get your hands on application development tools and middleware products from DB2®, Lotus®, Rational®, Tivoli®, and WebSphere®.
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Innovate your next open source development project with IBM trial software, available for download or on DVD.
Discuss
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Visit EclipseZone, an online community by and
for Eclipse users.
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Visit Planet Eclipse, a collection of Eclipse blogs.
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The Eclipse Platform newsgroups should be your first stop to discuss questions regarding Eclipse. (Selecting this will launch your default Usenet news reader application and open eclipse.platform.)
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The Eclipse newsgroups has many resources for people interested in using and extending Eclipse.
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Participate in developerWorks blogs and get involved in the developerWorks community.
Genady Beryozkin is a software developer with more than nine years of experience. He used Visual Studio for various C++ and C# projects, and has been using Eclipse for Java development since even before its initial 1.0 release in 2001. In 2002, he created the RMI plug-in for Eclipse, which helps developers to effectively develop, debug, and run applications that use the Java Remote Method Invocation (RMI) technology. He holds a bachelor's (summa cum laude) and a master's degree in computer science from Technion, Haifa, Israel.
