Eclipse Rich Client Platform: Designing, Coding, and Packaging Java(TM) Applications (The Eclipse Series)

This is my third book on Eclipse RCP and it is by far the best. I wish I had started here. The book is laid out in a tutorial fashion that takes you step-by-step through the process of creating a real-world application. It has a lot of practical advice such as how to integrate third-party libraries, and when to use the API versus when to use the declarative syntax. This was an especially important concept since most RCP applications are doing just tha -- putting a UI on top of a service. The other books that I read either provided too little information or read like a reference book. My recommendation for a newbie on RCP is to start with this book, and then augment as necessary with additional books on SWT,JFace, OSGI, or other topics such as GEF as necessary.

Build Powerful, Cross-Platform Rich Client Applications

Eclipse is more than a state-of-the-art IDE: its Rich Client Platform (RCP) plug-ins form an outstanding foundation for any desktop application, from chat applications to enterprise software front-ends. In Eclipse Rich Client Platform, two leaders of the Eclipse RCP project show exactly how to leverage Eclipse for rapid, efficient, cross-platform desktop development.

In addition to explaining the power of Eclipse as a desktop application development platform, the authors walk step-by-step through developing a fully featured, branded RCP application. They introduce a wide range of techniques, including developing pluggable and dynamically extensible systems, using third-party code libraries, and packaging applications for diverse environments. You'll build, refine, and refactor a complete prototype; customize the user interface; add Help and Update features; and build, brand, and ship the finished software.

• For every Java developer, regardless of previous Eclipse experience
• Thoroughly covers Eclipse 3.1's new RCP features and its extensive new tools for designing, coding, and packaging RCP applications
• Presents techniques for branding and customizing the look and feel of RCP applications
• Shows how to overcome the challenges and "rough edges" of RCP development
• Discusses the similarities and differences between RCP and conventional plug-in development
• Includes an overview of OSGi, the base execution framework for Eclipse

If you want to develop and deploy world-class Java applications with rich, native GUIs, and use Eclipse RCP—get this book.

CD-ROM contains the Eclipse 3.1 SDK, Eclipse 3.1 RCP SDK, and Eclipse 3.1 RCP Delta Pack appropriate for Windows, Linux, and Mac OS X. It also contains all the code samples developed in the book.

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Eclipse, a platform for building applications, was originally aimed at Web application and image manipulation. With the release of Eclipse 3.0 there has been a shift to the use of Eclipse as a Rich Client Platform (RCP). In other words, using Eclipse as a base for everyday generic applications from media players to productivity and desktop applications. Thinking of Eclipse as not just an IDE but a platform for all application building is an evolution for the platform and significantly extends its reach to developers. In this book the designers of Eclipse as an RCP introduces the reader to the RCP concept and walks them through a set of scenarios and examples using Eclipse to solve real world, application problems. This will appeal to all developers who want to develop and deploy world-class applications with rich, native GUIs. Development areas that are already using Eclipse RCP include bio-medical, embedded technology (handhelds, etc), enterprise and productivity applications and banking.