JDT UI

Development Resources

If you are already a JDT UI developer, check out the Development Resources.

The project summary page contains some more information about eclipse.jdt.ui.

JDT UI

The JDT UI implements the user interface for the Java IDE. It provides several workbench contributions for viewing and manipulating Java code:

  • Package Explorer View - shows the Java element tree as defined by a project's build class path
  • Type Hierarchy View - shows the sub- and supertype hierarchies
  • Java Outline View - shows the structure of a Java compilation unit or class file
  • Java Browsing Perspecitve - allows navigating the Java model using separate views for projects, packages, types and memebers.
  • Wizards for creating Java elements - Java project, package, class, interface
  • Java Editor - syntax coloring, content specific code assist, code resolve, method level edit, import assistance, quick fix and quick assist

In addition to these workbench elements the following functions are provided:

  • Refactoring support - Extract Method, Safe Rename and Moving with reference updates, Self Encapsulate Field etc.
  • Java searching - find declarations of and/or references to packages, types, methods, and fields, scoped to the workspace, a working set, or the current selection.
  • Java aware structured compare - determine and present changes to individual Java methods. It supports to replace individual Java elements with a version of an element from the local history.

Take a look at the screen casts to see some JDT features like the new Java 7 support and code refactoring in action.

Optional Plug-ins (maintained by JDT UI)

JDT UI contributes some plugins that are not part of the Eclipse SDK but can be downloaded from this update site:

http://www.eclipse.org/jdt/ui/update-site

Consult the plugin description pages for more information:

What’s Happening?

R4.3 Development

  • Most active development goes into this stream which can be downloaded from the eclipse project download area.
  • The combined JDT Text and JDT UI 4.3 plan is posted here.
  • The plan for the current M4 milestone is posted here.
  • The plans for the previous milestones can be found here.

R3.8 / 4.2

  • The current releases are R3.8 and R4.2 which are available on the download area.

R3.8 / 4.2 Maintenance

Pre 3.8 builds

Get Involved!

If you are interested in participating in the development of the JDT UI component, check out the developer's mailing list: jdt-ui-dev@eclipse.org. Chat with people there about your problems and interests, and find out what you can do to help.

If you have a background in the development of user interfaces, are interested in making the development and exploration of Java code fun, then don't hesitate to contact the JDT UI team. There is upcoming work in many areas like the Java editor or refactoring support. We need help for implementing many more refactorings. However be warned, the refactoring work is done in a strict test-first style, so get used to write tests before code!

For more detailed information, check out the Development Resources.

Quick links