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Difference between revisions of "Eclipse IDE for Education"
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<strong>Windows users:</strong> There is a known problem with the decompression software built into Windows; if you have a problem decompressing the file, either try decompressing it into the root directory, or use alternative decompression software such as 7zip or WinZip. | <strong>Windows users:</strong> There is a known problem with the decompression software built into Windows; if you have a problem decompressing the file, either try decompressing it into the root directory, or use alternative decompression software such as 7zip or WinZip. | ||
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* To provide an Eclipse IDE streamlined for the needs of university students | * To provide an Eclipse IDE streamlined for the needs of university students | ||
| − | =Fundamental Requirements= | + | ==Fundamental Requirements== |
*The IDE is as small as possible; only absolutely-required components are included. This includes download size, as well as runtime footprint. | *The IDE is as small as possible; only absolutely-required components are included. This includes download size, as well as runtime footprint. | ||
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The Eclipse IDE for Education, being constructed as a component under the [http://www.eclipse.org/soc Eclipse SOC] project, is a streamlined integrated development environment (IDE) which supports different languages used by first year students. The initially targeted languages are Java, Scheme and Prolog development. | The Eclipse IDE for Education, being constructed as a component under the [http://www.eclipse.org/soc Eclipse SOC] project, is a streamlined integrated development environment (IDE) which supports different languages used by first year students. The initially targeted languages are Java, Scheme and Prolog development. | ||
Revision as of 14:30, 2 September 2008
Contents
Abstract
The Eclipse IDE for Education is a version of Eclipse streamlined specifically for use by university and college students. The environment provides support for programming languages that are commonly used in university courses, including Java, Scheme, and Prolog.
Downloading and Installing
We currently only support the Java programming language. Scheme support should (hopefully) be available shortly, followed by Prolog. Note that this project is currently in incubation.
Download the Eclipse IDE for Education on the following platforms:
To install, extract the downloaded file onto your file system. To run, click on the "eclipse" executable (eclipse.exe on Windows).
Please report any problems via Eclipse Bugzilla.
Windows users: There is a known problem with the decompression software built into Windows; if you have a problem decompressing the file, either try decompressing it into the root directory, or use alternative decompression software such as 7zip or WinZip.
Background
Goals
- To provide an Eclipse IDE streamlined for the needs of university students
Fundamental Requirements
- The IDE is as small as possible; only absolutely-required components are included. This includes download size, as well as runtime footprint.
The Eclipse IDE for Education, being constructed as a component under the Eclipse SOC project, is a streamlined integrated development environment (IDE) which supports different languages used by first year students. The initially targeted languages are Java, Scheme and Prolog development.
Scaled down versions of Eclipse for Java development have been done in the past. One such version was produced by the GILD project. However, it is no longer supported, with its last release done on January 3, 2006, and intended for use with Eclipse version 3.1. Another version is Penumbra. It is plug-in developed at Purdue University for use in their introductory programming classes. It was intended to ease the transition to use of the full-featured functionality of Eclipse. Penumbra presents an Eclipse perspective that hides all but the basic actions of Eclipse's existing Java perspective, while packaging elements of other perspectives (e.g., the CVS perspective) into simpler actions that ease the downloading and turn-in of programming assignments, and adding new code views inspired by other environments for introductory programmers. Although neither version seems to be currently supported, they provide direction as to what a lite version of Eclipse for Java development might look like.
Only one Eclipse based Scheme development environment exists: The SchemeWay project. It provides a set of Eclipse plugins for the Scheme programming language and features a powerful, fully extensible S-expression-based editor that integrates seamlessly with any Scheme interpreter. However, this environment does not come with the source code and it is not targeted at first year students. While not Eclipse based, DR Scheme provides an environment that provides an integrated programming environment designed specifically with the needs of beginners in mind.
One free Eclipse plug-in for Prolog exists created by an undergraduate student named Juliana Barby Simão. However, it was completed in 2004 and was not continued, even though it was reported that the project would continue during 2004 as a graduate project. Not Eclipse based, JLog is an implementation of a Prolog interpreter, written in Java. It includes a built-in source editor, query panels, online help, animation primitives, and a GUI debugger. It could be easily wrapped within an Eclipse UI, providing Prolog for Eclipse users.
Whether for Java, Scheme or Prolog development, the idea is to provide first year students with Eclipse-based lite IDEs. By doing so, the belief is that as students become more experience with the lite versions and the languages, they can and will want to transition to the full versions of the IDE.
Development Plan
To be formalized into a project plan
August 29
- Build what we currently have: lite Java, Scheme.
- Publish update site and Package on Eclipse download page and Dwight's server at Carleton University (CU)
- Submit Sigcse paper Getting Eclipse into the Classroom
September 4-5
- Introduce CU first-year students to Java Lite integration in the IDE for Education
- Introduce CU third-year students to the Scheme Integration in the IDE for Education
October 3
- Incorporate Prolog (JLog from SourceForge)
- Currently dual licensed GPL/MPL
- Q&A Feedback for first-year, and third-year students; initial reaction to environment
November
- Generalization of the Java Lite view
- Tighter integration of Scheme and Prolog into environment
- For example, Schema and Prolog projects, file creation wizards, ...