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PDE build clarification [message #897205]

Mon, 23 July 2012 03:39

Eclipse User

Hi,

could someone explain me what the PDE does use for building an Eclipse plugin? Is it only the build.properties or also the .classpath file?

When building a RCP application, the PDE uses the product definition and from it it's capable of generating the config.ini, plugins a and features folders and the native launcher. Is that correct?

Thanks

Re: PDE build clarification [message #897623 is a reply to message #897205]

Tue, 24 July 2012 15:31

Eclipse User

When running PDE Build from the command line I don't think it uses the .classpath file at all. When exporting from the UI (Export plug-ins, features or products) I think PDE UI collects some of the necessary dependency information from the PDE state/models. While we use the classpath to store some of that information (specifically plug-in dependencies), I doubt the actual classpath file is referenced.

If you add jar libraries to the classpath, they will not be picked up be PDE/OSGi so they will not be available after exporting or launching.

When you export from the UI, we set up a PDE Build execution that builds all of the necessary plug-ins and features and copies them into the final destination. For product builds the config.ini is generated (or copied) and the native launcher is copied. Because the native launcher is copied you can only export for your current OS/Architecture. To make this work for other OS/Arch you need the Delta pack.

Re: PDE build clarification [message #897696 is a reply to message #897623]

Wed, 25 July 2012 02:51

Eclipse User

PDE build uses build.properties anything which is not on build.properties is ignored.

Re: PDE build clarification [message #898346 is a reply to message #897696]

Thu, 26 July 2012 05:07

Eclipse User

So what is then the .classpath file in a plugin project for?

Re: PDE build clarification [message #898604 is a reply to message #898346]

Thu, 26 July 2012 16:50

Eclipse User

The .classpath file is used for the JDT build path. PDE is built on top of JDT so it handles building the java code. The runtime (launching) is handled by OSGi/Equinox, so PDE assists you in setting up OSGi/Equinox plug-ins.

Re: PDE build clarification [message #898710 is a reply to message #898604]

Fri, 27 July 2012 05:45

Eclipse User

I'm still stepping in the dark.

When developing plugins, PDE updates .class files so the JDT can compile to class files and also I can leverage from content assist etc?

When building plugins, PDE uses solely build.properties?

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