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How to dynamically load eclipse plugins/features from the file system? [message #43514]

Mon, 21 June 2004 22:13

Eclipse User

Originally posted by: Michael-Scharf.gmx.de

Hi,

we have big product where eclipse is only one piece. The
installation is modular and each piece of the big product
might come with its own plugins (or features). Those pieces
should be as self contained as possible, and therefore we
don't want the installer to "mess" in the eclipse directory.
We want eclipse (our code) to discover installed pieces. In
those pieces we might find eclipse plugins/features that should
be loaded at runtime.

Question: if we can find out the places where the plugins/features
reside, how can we tell eclipse to become aware of those plugins?

We knoe the .eclipseextension mechanism:
http://dev.eclipse.org/newslists/news.eclipse.tools/msg54812 .html
but one problem is that links have to be absolute paths:
https://bugs.eclipse.org/bugs/show_bug.cgi?id=35037

We would like to use environment variables, java properties or
programmatically specify the paths to the installation.

Is there a mechanism to do this?

Michael

Re: How to dynamically load eclipse plugins/features from the file system? [message #43545 is a reply to message #43514]

Mon, 21 June 2004 23:04

Eclipse User

Originally posted by: pascal.ibm.canada

I don't think there is any discovery mechanism of various folders on the
disk (for example I don't think we have a mechanism that allows you to
say "install me all the plugins and features from c:/").
However I'm pretty sure that the update component has something that
allows to install a feature if you tell it where it is (there is
something like that surfaced in the update UI).

As I don't know a lot about this new API, take a look at the doc. But
after giving a quick look at the APIs I would recommand you to start
your exploration by EnableCommand and other classes from this package.

If this does not help, you might be more lucky in asking your question
on platform.

HTH,

PaScaL

Michael Scharf wrote:
> Hi,
>
> we have big product where eclipse is only one piece. The
> installation is modular and each piece of the big product
> might come with its own plugins (or features). Those pieces
> should be as self contained as possible, and therefore we
> don't want the installer to "mess" in the eclipse directory.
> We want eclipse (our code) to discover installed pieces. In
> those pieces we might find eclipse plugins/features that should
> be loaded at runtime.
>
> Question: if we can find out the places where the plugins/features
> reside, how can we tell eclipse to become aware of those plugins?
>
> We knoe the .eclipseextension mechanism:
> http://dev.eclipse.org/newslists/news.eclipse.tools/msg54812 .html
> but one problem is that links have to be absolute paths:
> https://bugs.eclipse.org/bugs/show_bug.cgi?id=35037
>
> We would like to use environment variables, java properties or
> programmatically specify the paths to the installation.
>
> Is there a mechanism to do this?
>
> Michael

Re: How to dynamically load eclipse plugins/features from the file system? [message #43574 is a reply to message #43545]

Tue, 22 June 2004 09:11

Eclipse User

Originally posted by: Michael-Scharf.gmx.de

Hi Pascal,
> I don't think there is any discovery mechanism of various folders on the
> disk (for example I don't think we have a mechanism that allows you to
> say "install me all the plugins and features from c:/").

ah, the specification is that we would know where to find plugins!

> However I'm pretty sure that the update component has something that
> allows to install a feature if you tell it where it is (there is
> something like that surfaced in the update UI).

yes, that's what I was looking for...

> As I don't know a lot about this new API, take a look at the doc. But
> after giving a quick look at the APIs I would recommand you to start
> your exploration by EnableCommand and other classes from this package.

I'll give it a try...

Thanks for your help

Michael

Re: How to dynamically load eclipse plugins/features from the file system? [message #43606 is a reply to message #43514]

Tue, 22 June 2004 12:53

Eclipse User

Originally posted by: newsserver_mails.bodden.de

I do know that the new OSGI runtime includes the feature of dynamic
plugin installation. You might wanna search for that keyword.

Eric

--
Eric Bodden
ICQ UIN: 12656220
Website: http://www.bodden.de
GPG: BB465582

Re: How to dynamically load eclipse plugins/features from the file system? [message #43636 is a reply to message #43514]

Tue, 22 June 2004 22:51

Eclipse User

Originally posted by: dorian.birsan.net

"Michael Scharf" <Michael-Scharf@gmx.de> wrote in message
news:cb84j5$su$1@eclipse.org...
> Hi,
>
> we have big product where eclipse is only one piece. The
> installation is modular and each piece of the big product
> might come with its own plugins (or features). Those pieces
> should be as self contained as possible, and therefore we
> don't want the installer to "mess" in the eclipse directory.
> We want eclipse (our code) to discover installed pieces. In
> those pieces we might find eclipse plugins/features that should
> be loaded at runtime.
>
> Question: if we can find out the places where the plugins/features
> reside, how can we tell eclipse to become aware of those plugins?

Two ways:

1. either set those locations as product extensions (an eclipse dir, with
features and plugins folders, and a marker file .eclipseextension)
and have it linked to your main eclipse via a .link file, or using the
Add site (via the update manager ui, or via command line or
programmatically)

2. use update manager and add a local site (on the second page of the
install wizard) and install from it.

>
> We knoe the .eclipseextension mechanism:
> http://dev.eclipse.org/newslists/news.eclipse.tools/msg54812 .html
> but one problem is that links have to be absolute paths:
> https://bugs.eclipse.org/bugs/show_bug.cgi?id=35037
>
> We would like to use environment variables, java properties or
> programmatically specify the paths to the installation.
>
> Is there a mechanism to do this?
>
> Michael

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