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Developing Project with RCP [message #462867]

Thu, 01 February 2007 10:54

Eclipse User

Originally posted by: rdgoite.gmail.com

I am new to software engineering and I'm still in the process of learning about the concepts, processes and technologies within the field.

Ok. So much for that. I am taking a class on software engineering and as anyone would expect, completing the subject requires developing a working software. For the team I'm in, the members decided to make a credit card application system that will be used for screening applicants. It's more of a record-keeping system with some functionalities like approving or declining an application.

Our team decided to go 2 tier on this, a rich client and a database server. We're looking at RCP for the client development.

I've been through a few articles introducing Eclipse RCP and I'm beginning to realize, it's a little hard to learn given the fact that there's only little time before our deadline--less than 2 months. But I feel like it's a little late to turn back now. So can you suggest a way to accelerate my learning the RCP?

I'm also looking for a free plug-in for RCP development and GUI design. (I'm not sure if RCP development plug-ins come with GUI designers).

Also, I'm not sure what technologies should be used for linking together the database and the client. I've heard about JDBC but I haven't read anything about it yet. Does JDBC work like: you create an instance of the database within your application and use that object to query the actual database?

Thanks!

Re: Developing Project with RCP [message #462926 is a reply to message #462867]

Fri, 02 February 2007 09:03

Eclipse User

Originally posted by: krzysztofHMMMMdaniel.gmail.com

> completing the subject requires developing a working software.
That's the theory ;)

> It's more of a record-keeping system with some functionalities like approving or declining an application.

In my honest opinion its to little functionality for RCP application.
I'd better write SWT/Swing one using JDBC.

More advanced version is still SWT/Swing but with Hibernate.

Using RCP is a bit like shooting from canon to flies ;), of course if
its only record management.

JDBC does not include database, its only connects to it and provides
API. You need to have your database.

However, if you made some effort, it may be not worth to go back.

Here is a link that can help you
http://www.eclipse.org/articles/Article-RCP-1/tutorial1.html
Please let me know if it helps.

--
Chris

Re: Developing Project with RCP [message #462928 is a reply to message #462926]

Fri, 02 February 2007 09:27

Eclipse User

Hi,

or better go and get a book about RCP-Development if you really want to
learn RCP and Eclipse development it's the right choice.

http://www.amazon.com/dp/0321334612?tag=bestsolutiona-20& ;camp=14573&creative=327641&linkCode=as1&creativ eASIN=0321334612&adid=1Q48EJZA99S6W6ZS0F7C&

Tom

Krzysztof Daniel schrieb:
>> completing the subject requires developing a working software.
> That's the theory ;)
>
>> It's more of a record-keeping system with some functionalities like
>> approving or declining an application.
>
> In my honest opinion its to little functionality for RCP application.
> I'd better write SWT/Swing one using JDBC.
>
> More advanced version is still SWT/Swing but with Hibernate.
>
> Using RCP is a bit like shooting from canon to flies ;), of course if
> its only record management.
>
> JDBC does not include database, its only connects to it and provides
> API. You need to have your database.
>
> However, if you made some effort, it may be not worth to go back.
>
> Here is a link that can help you
> http://www.eclipse.org/articles/Article-RCP-1/tutorial1.html
> Please let me know if it helps.
>
> --
> Chris

Re: Developing Project with RCP [message #462960 is a reply to message #462928]

Fri, 02 February 2007 10:02

Eclipse User

Originally posted by: krzysztofHMMMMdaniel.gmail.com

Tom,

I agree that your solution is right, but less than 8 week is to short
time to learn new technology (or technologies) design and implement
software, test and prepare presentation.

--
Chris

Re: Developing Project with RCP [message #462986 is a reply to message #462926]

Fri, 02 February 2007 16:26

Eclipse User

Originally posted by: rdgoite.gmail.com

Thanks for replying Chris.

> In my honest opinion its to little functionality for
> RCP application.
> I'd better write SWT/Swing one using JDBC.

Do you think so... I think I sounded like I'm underestimating the size of our project. Well... we have a considerable number of use cases. But I don't know if it's going to help (and relevant) if I put the details of our system requirements here.

> JDBC does not include database, its only connects to
> it and provides
> API. You need to have your database.

Yeah, I'm quite aware of that. We'll be using postgres for our db. I still have not read anything about JDBC because I'm still reading things about the RCP. But I am guessing that JDBC will let you produce an object which will represent the database in your application. All your queries will have to go to this object (through some method) and JDBC will handle the dirty work of retrieving things from the actual db and then generates an object of another type that contains what the db returns. Is that right?

Re: Developing Project with RCP [message #462991 is a reply to message #462960]

Fri, 02 February 2007 16:50

Eclipse User

The only thing you need to do is

New Project > Plugin Project

On second page select yes for rich client and select application with a
view. Your product only needs one view I think so the only thing you
need to learn is how to programm SWT. You don't need anything from the
whole RCP-Suite but you get a professional L&F for free, with a starting
splash-screen, ... . And if you have time you can easily add functions
or explore features.

Tom

Krzysztof Daniel schrieb:
> Tom,
>
> I agree that your solution is right, but less than 8 week is to short
> time to learn new technology (or technologies) design and implement
> software, test and prepare presentation.
>
> --
> Chris

Re: Developing Project with RCP [message #463009 is a reply to message #462986]

Sat, 03 February 2007 16:57

Eclipse User

> Do you think so... I think I sounded like I'm underestimating the size of
our project. Well... we have a considerable number of use cases. But I don't
know if it's going to help (and relevant) if I put the details of our system
requirements here.

It will help a lot if you post the requirements here. RCP is huge beast. I
gives you a lot functionality with (relative) little effort. However I
think that this "little effort" might be too much for a class project.
However, making your project with RCP will most likely make it better that
the rest of the project the profesor has seen.

Re: Developing Project with RCP [message #463012 is a reply to message #462986]

Sat, 03 February 2007 17:18

Eclipse User

Originally posted by: krzysztofHMMMdaniel.gmail.com

Hi there again.

The most important thing is:
How many use-cases do you have?
And how many different functionalities it requires?
Please count databases selects, user interface element types and actions
user can do.

That should give us more exact overview.

--
Chris

Re: Developing Project with RCP [message #463021 is a reply to message #463009]

Sat, 03 February 2007 20:01

Eclipse User

Originally posted by: rdgoite.gmail.com

In any case, our professor told us to use a framework so I think we'll have to stick to RCP. We'll be able to somehow tame this monster and ask it to nibble instead of bite, right?

Re: Developing Project with RCP [message #463029 is a reply to message #463021]

Mon, 05 February 2007 11:56

Eclipse User

rdgoite wrote:
> In any case, our professor told us to use a framework so I think we'll have to stick to RCP. We'll be able to somehow tame this monster and ask it to nibble instead of bite, right?
You can get a 14 day evaluation of RCP Developer from here:

http://www.instantiations.com/rcpdeveloper/download.html

You can get an easy to use object database from here that will save you
immense amount of time and work:

http://www.db4o.com/community/

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