equinox
rcp scenario

 
Introduction

The Eclipse RCP should allow users to start with a minimal Eclipse install and incrementally add the function they want. The initial install should be as small as possible and ideally installed via WebStart or similar technology. Installing further function can be done using the standard Eclipse Install/Update support or some other mechanism. This document details a scenario for running which explores these possibilities.

Last update: 2300 November 20, 2003

The minimal installs

A minimal Eclipse RCP install would be headless and include a console which allows users to install further bundles. Stepping up from this the install would include a basic GUI based directly on SWT. We will explore both in this scenario.

Minimal headless install

The minimal headless RCP install includes the following bundles:

  • org.eclipse.osgi (including console.jar)
  • org.eclipse.osgi.services
  • org.eclipse.osgi.utils
  • org.eclipse.core.runtime.osgi

Minimal GUI install

The minimal GUI RCP install includes all the headless bundles (though console.jar is not required) plus the following bundles:

  • org.eclipse.swt
  • org.eclipse.swt.ws (window system specific bundle)
  • org.eclipse.jface
  • org.eclipse.ui
  • org.eclipse.ui.workbench
Minimal Headless Scenario
  1. get and unzip the minimal headless install
  2. start eclipse.exe -console
  3. in the console type "ss" to get a list of the bundles known to the runtime
  4. install some number of bundles
  5. list the bundles installed and discover their state
  6. list the products/applications installed and identify one of each/or both to start or start desired bundles directly
  7. use the application started
  8. exit the application via its exit mechanism or stop the framework
Minimal GUI Scenario
  1. get and unzip the minimal GUI install (or start with the minimal headless install and use it to install the GUI install manager. goto step 3)
  2. start eclipse.exe [-console]
  3. in the GUI identify the bundles to install either by file, entered URL or known URL, click ok
  4. select a product and/or application to run using the run menu or start various bundles directly
  5. use the application started
  6. exit the application via its exit mechanism or stop the framework
Minimal installer GUI

The minimal GUI install manager is based on org.eclipse.core.runtime.osgi and org.eclipse.swt and allows users to:

  • install/update bundles from the file system (using a file dialog)
  • install/update bundles from a user enteredURL (text entry dialog)
  • install/update bundles by selecting from a list of known URLs (chooser/drop down)
  • uninstall bundles (multi-select list and context menu/menu bar/tool bar)
  • query the framework state including the status of all bundles (list of bundles with decoration), running application, system properties (text report)
  • start/stop installed bundles (multi-select list and context menu/menu bar/tool bar)
  • choose a product and/or application to run (dual list dialog, selection in one or both then ok)
  • spawn a text based console (requires console.jar be available)
  • stop/restart/refresh the framework