Java programmers know how finicky Java can be to work with. An omitted semi-colon or the slightest typo will cause the Java command-line compiler to spew pages of annoying error messages across your screen. And it doesn't fix them--that's up to you: fix them, compile again, and hope that nothing goes wrong this time.

Eclipse, the popular Java integrated development environment (IDE) provides an elegant and powerful remedy for this common, frustrating scenario. It doesn't just catch your errors before you compile, it also suggests solutions. All you need to do is point and click. And it's free--what could be better? Still, if you're like most programmers, mastering a new technology--no matter how productive it will make you in the long run--is going to take a chunk out of your productivity now. You want to get up to speed quickly without sacrificing efficiency.

O'Reilly's new guide to the technology, Eclipse, provides exactly what you're looking for: a fast-track approach to mastery of Eclipse. This insightful, hands-on book delivers clear and concise coverage, with no fluff, that gets down to business immediately. The book is tightly focused, covering all aspects of Eclipse: the menus, preferences, views, perspectives, editors, team and debugging techniques, and how they're used every day by thousands of developers. Development of practical skills is emphasized with dozens of examples presented throughout the book.

From cover-to-cover, the book is pure Eclipse, covering hundreds of techniques beginning with the most basic Java development through creating your own plug-in editors for the Eclipse environment. Some of the topics you'll learn about include:

• Using Eclipse to develop Java code
  
• Testing and debugging
  
• Working in teams using CVS
  
• Building Eclipse projects using Ant
  
• The Standard Widget Toolkit (SWT)
  
• Web development
  
• Developing Struts applications with Eclipse

From basics to advanced topics, Eclipse takes you through the fundamentals of Eclipse and more. You may be an Eclipse novice when you pick up the book, but you'll be a pro by the time you've finished.

Table of Contents：

Preface 

1. Essential Eclipse

      Eclipse and Java 

      Getting Eclipse 

      Understanding Eclipse 

      Views and Perspectives 

      Working with Eclipse 

      Using Quick Fix 

      A Word About Project Management 

2. Java Development

      Developing Java Code 

      Building and Running Code 

      Creating Javadoc 

      Refactoring 

      Some Essential Skills 

      Customizing the Development Environment 

3. Testing and Debugging

      Testing with JUnit 

      Debugging 

4. Working in Teams

      How Source Control Works 

      Understanding CVS 

      Finding a CVS Server 

      Adding a Project to the CVS Repository 

5. Building Eclipse Projects Using Ant

      Working with Ant 

      JARing Your Output 

      Configuring Ant in Eclipse 

      Catching Errors in Build Files 

6. GUI Programming: From Applets to Swing

      Creating AWT Applications 

      Creating Swing Applications 

      Using Eclipse Plug-ins 

      Using the V4ALL Plug-in 

7. SWT: Buttons, Text, Labels, Lists, Layouts, and Events

      Java Graphics 

      An SWT Example 

      Working with Buttons 

      Working with Composites and Layouts 

      Working with Lists 

      Using V4ALL with SWT 

8. SWT: Menus, Toolbars, Sliders, Trees, and Dialogs

      Working with Menus 

      Working with Toolbars 

      Working with Sliders 

      Working with Trees 

      Working with Dialogs 

      Opening Internet Explorer in an SWT Window 

9. Web Development

      Installing and Testing Tomcat 

      Creating a JSP 

      Creating a Servlet 

      Creating a Servlet in Place 

      Connecting to a JavaBean 

      Using the Sysdeo Tomcat Plug-in 

      Deploying Web Applications 

10. Developing Struts Applications with Eclipse

      Struts and Eclipse 

      Creating the View 

      Creating the Controller 

      Creating the Model 

      Using the Easy Struts Plug-in 

11. Developing a Plug-in: The Plug-in Development Environment, Manifests, and Extension Points

      All You Really Need Is plugin.xml 

      Using the Plug-in Development Environment 

      Using the Run-time Workbench 

      Creating a Standard Plug-in 

12. Developing a Plug-in: Creating Editors and Views

      Creating a Multi-Page Editor 

      Creating a View 

      Deploying a Plug-in 

13. Eclipse 3.0

      A Look at Eclipse 3.0 

      Creating a Java Project 

      Changes to the Eclipse Platform 

      Changes to the Java Development Tools 

      Other Changes 

Index