Eclipse (a Java IDE) - First Steps

(Free Web Tutorial)

by Michael Thomas

Eclipse Home Page

Description:

Install Eclilpse SDK, create your first Java Project and then create the Java Cert project for the "Free Java Core & Certification Training Web Tutorial".

IDE - Interactive Development Environment

Eclipse General Info

• Eclipse version - Help, About SDK
• JVM version used to run programs:
  • Launch Eclipse.   Help, About SDK, Configuration Details.
  • You can see what Java VM is used to run your programs.
    • java.vendor - Java vendor.
    • java.version & java.vm.version - Java version.
• JDK version used to compile java programs
  • Sorry, I don't know where to locate this information.  Email me if you know.

Eclipse Install - Eclipse SDK 3.1.1

• Prerequisites - JRE (Java Runtime Environment)
• Download Eclipse
  • http://www.eclipse.org
    • Click "Downloads" tab at the top.
    • Click on the Disk-to-Computer icon called "Download now: Eclipse SDK x.x.x"
      file: eclipse-SDK-3.1.1-win32.zip
• Install Eclipse
  • Extract the zip file to: C:\
    Note: The files will be extracted to: C:\eclipse\...  Make sure that zip programs "Use folder names" is enabled.
• Launch Eclipse
  • Create a directory for your workspace:  c:\eclipseworkspace
  • Run the executable: C:\eclipse\eclipse.exe - use Win Explorer to launch the executable.
  • Workspace = c:\eclipseworkspace
  • Click OK.
• Optional (Win XP) - Create an entry in "Start", "All Programs"
  • Right click on "Start", choose "Explorer all users",
  • Click on "Programs"
  • Click "File", "New", "Shortcut"
  • For location of item, browse to: C:\eclipse\eclipse.exe
  • Click next.
  • Name for the shortcut: Eclipse
  • Click "Finish"
  • Click "Start", "All Programs"
  • Click "Eclipse" to launch the program.

Create a Test Java Project & Java Class

• Create a test Java Project
  • File, New, Project
  • Click "Java Project", then Next
  • Project name:  MyJavaTest
  • Click "Finish"
• Create a new Java Class
  • File, New, Class
  • Source Folder:  should be defaulted to "MyJavaTest" which was created above.
  • Name:  MyApplication
  • Click "Finish"
  • Make the java class have the following code:
    public class MyApplication {
      public static void main( String [] args ) {
        System.out.println("Hello World from an Application.");
      }
    }
  • Save the application with "Ctrl-S".
  • Click "Run", "Run As", "Java Application"
  • In the "Console" window at the bottom you should see the following:
    Hello World from an Application.
  • Click the "Clear Console" icon (Paper with an X in it).
  • Congratulations - you have created and tested you first Java Application.
  • Notes
    • C:\eclipseworkspace\MyJavaTest - has the files you just created.

Setup a Project for "javacert"

• You can setup Eclipse to access all of my Java Certification examples that I have at my web site on your local PC.
• Click on the link below and look for the section titled "Download Files".  Extract the zip file into a directory. When you extract the file it will create a directory called "javacert".
  Free Training: Sun Certified Java Programmer Exam
• Launch Eclipse
• Create a Java Project.
  • File, New, Java Project, Next
  • Project Name: javacert
  • Contents: "Create project from existing source".
  • Click "Browse" and locate the directory you extracted (ie: javacert).  Click "Finish"
  • On the "Java Settings" screen, click "Finish"
  • Change the output folder.
    • Project, Properties
    • Click "Java Build Properties"
    • Default Output folder: javacert\classes
  • Now you can edit and run the source code at my web site on your local PC using Eclipse - HAVE FUN.