Proficient in Eclipse V3.4, part 2nd: JDT

This article introduces Java™development Tools (JDT), demonstrates some common features, and explains how to customize these common features. It also discusses the concepts and features of the Eclipse Integrated development Environment (IDE) that are different from other environments, or JDT features that are not easily discovered by new users. If you are just starting to use Eclipse V3.4, see part 1th.

What is JDT?

Eclipse is synonymous with Java development. However, for most eclipse novices, the relationship between Eclipse and Java technology may not be very clear.

Eclipse is a skeleton platform written in the Java programming language. Plug-ins written on top of the IDE (such as Mylar and Findbugs) will provide their functionality, and the Java language allows Eclipse to run like the Java IDE. Perhaps because JDT is the default for Eclipse downloads, when developers say they are using eclipse for Java development, they actually refer to using JDT, which may not be immediately understood.

Analyzing Java Projects

Figure 1. Typical Java projects found in Package Explorer

A Java project consists of the following elements:

src folder

This folder contains the actual source code for the application. By default, when you create a new Java project, Eclipse creates the SRC folder that holds all the source code, but you can add any folder as the source code folder. For example, many people like to use the tests folder to save all the test cases that you create. To add a tests folder to your project, do the following:

1. Right-click the item, and then click New > Folder.

2, type the name of the folder (in this case, tests) and click OK.

3. Right-click the tests folder, and then click Build Path > Use as Source folder.

Output folder

This folder contains the. class folder generated from source code. By default, Eclipse creates the Bin folder to hold the content.

Referencing libraries

These are other Java projects in the library or workspace referenced by the current project. When Eclipse builds or runs a Java project, the content is added to the build path and CLASSPATH.