Getting started with AJDT

Welcome to this gentle introduction to AJDT, the AspectJ Development Tools. It aims to serve as a guided reference to the other many resources available, and also includes a few tips along the way.

What is it?

Essentially, AJDT enables you to write AspectJ code in Eclipse. You can read a bit more about this on the description page. If phrases like "modularization of crosscutting concerns" sound a bit mysterious to you, or you just want to learn more about the AspectJ language itself, then you should head over to the AspectJ project. A good place to start there is the Programming Guide on the Documentation page.

What does it look like?

You'll see the odd screenshot dotted about here and there, but it's better to see AJDT in action by viewing some of the animated demos.

How can I get it?

So you've read the blurb and watched the demos. Now would be the perfect time to try it out for yourself! If you're not already running Eclipse, install that first (go for the latest stable release). Then visit the AJDT downloads page and pick the most recent stable release that matches the version of Eclipse you have. It's vital you get a matching versions, so check the information carefully. You can install AJDT either by getting the zip file and unzipping it into your eclipse directory, or (and probably easier) you can use the URL listed on the download page in the Eclipse Update Manager. You can access this via Help > Software Updates > Find And Install...