Eclipse IDE Installation guide

Eclipse IDE (Integration Development Environment) is an open source. Hence it is popular for Java application development (Java SE and Java EE) and Android apps.

Also supports C/C++, PHP, Python, Perl, and other web project developments via plug-ins. Is cross platform compatible and runs under Windows, Linux and Mac OS.

Various releases can be found at Wiki and also on Release page. While writing this post is Oxygen (June 2017) is the latest version.

Install Eclipse IDE on Windows

• Download Eclipse from downloads.
• Select Under “Get Eclipse <Latest Version>” ⇒ Then click “Download Pakages”.

Fig:1

• Download any of below versions based on your requirements.

Fig:2

• Finally unzip the downloaded file into a directory of your choice (e.g., “E:/eclipse”).
• In Addition, Eclipse for Java programming, you need to first install Java Development Kit (JDK). Read “How to Install JDK for Windows“.

You can also simply delete the entire Eclipse directory when it is no longer needed (without running any un-installer) . You also can move or rename the directory.

Install Eclipse IDE on Mac

• • Go to downloads.
  • Select Under “Get Eclipse <Latest Version>” ⇒ Then click “Download Pakages”.
  • Choose “Mac OS X (Cocoa)” from the drop down and select the required option as shown in above figure.
  • Then Extract downloaded TAR file to a folder “eclipse”
  • Then drag “eclipse” folder to the “Applications” folder.
  • To start Eclipse, open the “eclipse” folder and click on the “Eclipse” icon. You may drag the “Eclipse” icon to the dock.
  • Furthermore, you need to first install Java Development Kit (JDK) for Java programming, . Read “How to Install JDK for Mac OS“.

Notes: To uninstall Eclipse, drag the “/Applications/eclipse” folder to trash.

Install Eclipse on Ubuntu Linux

• Go to downloads.
• Select Under “Get Eclipse <Latest Version>” ⇒ Then click “Download Pakages”.
• Choose “Linux” from drop down and select required option as shown in Fig:2.
• Now we shall install Eclipse under /usr/local.

// Unzip the tarball into /usr/local
$ cd /usr/local
$ sudo tar xzvf ~/Downloads/eclipse-jee-neon-2-linux-gtk-x86_64.tar.gz
// Extract the downloaded package
// x: extract, z: for unzipping gz, v: verbose, f: filename
// Extract into /usr/local/eclipse
// You can also unzip in "File Explorer" by double-clicking the tarball.
// (Optional) Change ownership

$ cd /usr/local
$ sudo chown -R your-username:your-groupname eclipse
// Change ownership to your chosen username and groupname
// -R recursive

To Create a launcher shortcut, Open terminal from Unity Dash, Application Launcher, or via Ctrl+Alt+T shortcut key. When it opens, paste below command and run:

gedit .local/share/applications/eclipse.desktop

The command creates and opens a launcher file, for current user, with gedit text editor. When it opens, paste below content:

[Desktop Entry]
Name=Eclipse
Type=Application
Exec=/home/USERNAME/java-mars/eclipse/eclipse
Terminal=false
Icon=/home/USERNAME/java-mars/eclipse/icon.xpm
Comment=Integrated Development Environment
NoDisplay=false
Categories=Development;IDE;
Name[en]=Eclipse

• Simply start Eclipse. Right-click the Eclipse icon ⇒ Then lock to Launcher.
• For Java programming you need JDK, therefore you need to install Java Development Kit (JDK) first . Read “How to Install JDK for Ubuntu“.

Finally to note, Eclipse comes with many flavors

• For Java programming, choose “Eclipse IDE for Java Developers” or “Eclipse IDE for Java EE Developers”.
• To use Eclipse for PHP programming, choose “Eclipse IDE for PHP Developers”.
• Eclipse for C/C++ programming, choose “Eclipse IDE for C/C++ Developers”.