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__NOTOC__
 
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[[GEF/GEF4 | GEF4]] is the unified effort to develop a new GEF 4.x code base as a modernization of the current one (Draw2d, GEF (MVC) 3.x, and Zest 1.x, in the following referred to as ''GEF proper''). Being developed in parallel to maintaining the GEF proper code base, [[GEF/GEF4 | GEF4]] is set up as a set of provisional [[#Components | components]], not being bound to the same API compatibility constraints.  
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[[GEF/GEF4 | GEF4]] is the unified effort of the [http://www.eclipse.org/gef Graphical Editing Framework (GEF)] project team to develop a new GEF 4.x code base as a modernization of the current production components [https://www.eclipse.org/gef/draw2d/ Draw2d 3.x], [https://www.eclipse.org/gef/gef_mvc/index.php GEF (MVC) 3.x], and [https://www.eclipse.org/gef/zest/index.php Zest 1.x].  
  
Additional information about our plans and can be inferred from the following talks:
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Being developed in parallel to maintaining the production components, [[GEF/GEF4 | GEF4]] is set up in terms of smaller, more lightweight [[#Components / Reference Documentation | components]], uses JavaFX instead of SWT as rendering technology, and allows to build up graphical applications for Eclipse (using a JavaFX-SWT-integration) as well as standalone.
* [http://www.eclipsecon.org/2012/sites/eclipsecon.org.2012/files/GEF_Past_Present_Future_0.pdf Alexander Nyßen (2012): GEF - Past, Present, and Future, EclipseCon NA, Reston (VA), 2012]
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* [http://www.eclipsecon.org/europe2012/sites/eclipsecon.org.europe2012/files/GEF4_Share_And_Enjoy_0.pdf Alexander Nyßen (2012): GEF4 - Share And Enjoy..., EclipseCon Europe, Ludwigsburg, 2012]
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Please note that '''all GEF4 API is still provisional''', i.e. there is no released API yet. Therefore, all API-packages are exported with the x-internal directive. To differentiate them from non-API packages, all non-API packages are explicitly named as 'internal' and are either not exported by the bundle manifest, or only via an x-friends directive (if they are used in other test bundles, etc.). You may want to consult the [[GEF/Contributor_Guide | Contributor Guide]] for details on how to set up your IDE to get rid of any restricted access warnings that are caused by this policy.
* [http://www.eclipsecon.org/2013/sessions/gef4-share-and-enjoy Alexander Nyßen (2013): GEF4 - (Continue to) Share and Enjoy..., EclipseCon NA, Boston (MA), 2013]
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* [[media:GEF4_SwtFX.pdf | Alexander Nyßen (2013): GEF4 SwtFX (Lightning Talks), EclipseCon Europe, Ludwigsburg, 2013 ]]
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* [[media:GEF4.pdf | Alexander Nyßen (2013): GEF4, RheinJug, Düsseldorf, 2013 ]]
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== Current Status ==
 
== Current Status ==
Having functionally completed the GEF4 Geometry and GEF4 Cloudio components, work is currently being spent on developing a JavaFX-based replacement for the core of GEF (GEF4 FX, GEF4 SwtFX, GEF4 MVC), as well as further migration of the former Zest2 code base (GEF4 Layout, GEF4 Graph).
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All GEF4 components are part of the [http://projects.eclipse.org/projects/tools.gef/releases/3.10.0-mars GEF 3.10.0 (Mars)] contribution to the [https://projects.eclipse.org/releases/mars Mars simultaneous release].
  
== Components ==
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Having complete the migration of the Zest 2.x code base to GEF4 with Mars M6 (see [https://bugs.eclipse.org/bugs/show_bug.cgi?id=372365 #372365] for details), we are currently working on closing parts of the remaining functional gap between GEF4 and GEF 3.x. From M7 onwards we will concentrate on augmenting the [[#Components / Reference Documentation | reference documentation]].
* [[Image:Ok_green.gif]][[GEF/GEF4/Geometry | GEF4 Geometry (Geometry / Convert.SWT, Convert.FX]] - Provides different abstractions (Euclidean, Projective, Planar) for 2D geometric calculations, and conversions of planar geometries (curves, shapes, poly shapes) to/from respective SWT and AWT equivalents (as well as conversions between these SWT and AWT geometries). ([https://bugs.eclipse.org/bugs/show_bug.cgi?id=355997 355997])
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* [[Image:Progress.gif]][[GEF/GEF4/FX | GEF4 FX]]  - Provides JavaFX Geometry Node implementations and other utilities. ([https://bugs.eclipse.org/bugs/show_bug.cgi?id=427114 427114])
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== Components / Reference Documentation ==
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GEF4 is internally constituted of the following nine components (with their respective sub-modules). The reference documentation for each component may be accessed via the component links.
  
* [[Image:Progress.gif]][[GEF/GEF4/SwtFX | GEF4 SwtFX]] - Provides JavaFX Node implementations for SWT Controls, so that you can embed SWT Controls in a JavaFX scene graph using the JavaFX SWT integration. ([https://bugs.eclipse.org/bugs/show_bug.cgi?id=410772 410772])
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[[Image:GEF4_Vision.png|600px]]
  
* [[Image:Progress.gif]][[GEF/GEF4/MVC | GEF4 MVC (MVC / MVC.UI / MVC.FX / MVC.FX.UI)]] - Core model-view-controller framework to build up graphical editors and views. Provides an UI toolkit independent and a JavaFX specific layer, and can be used to build standalone and Eclipse-integrated editors and views ([https://bugs.eclipse.org/bugs/show_bug.cgi?id=419805 419805])
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* [[GEF/GEF4/Common | <span style="color:#5B8E92">GEF4 Common</span>]] - Provides basic abstractions and infrastructure used by (potentially) all other GEF4 components, including an enhanced [http://nyssen.blogspot.de/2014/11/iadaptable-gef4s-interpretation-of.html adaptable pattern] and notification support.
  
* [[Image:Progress.gif]][[GEF/GEF4/Layout| GEF4 Layout]] - Will provide a data model for layout calculations as well as basic layout algorithms. Will be based on the contents of the <code>org.eclipse.draw2d.graph</code> package as well as on the SWT/JFace independent parts of the <code>org.eclipse.zest.core.layouts</code> plug-in.( [https://bugs.eclipse.org/bugs/show_bug.cgi?id=394219 394219])
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* [[GEF/GEF4/Geometry | <span style="color:#268558">GEF4 Geometry (Geometry / Geoemtry.Convert.SWT / Geometry.Convert.FX)</span>]] - Provides different abstractions (Euclidean, Projective, Planar) for 2D geometric calculations, and conversions of planar geometries (curves, shapes, poly shapes) to/from respective SWT, AWT, and JavaFX equivalents (as well as conversions between SWT and AWT geometries).
  
* [[Image:Progress.gif]][[GEF/GEF4/Graph| GEF4 Graph]] Will provide a UI-independent data model for representing graph structures, as well as an import/export functionality from/to GraphViz DOT representations.
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* [[GEF/GEF4/FX | <span style="color:#4C6084">GEF4 FX (FX / FX.UI)</span>]] - Provides support for rendering [[GEF/GEF4/Geometry | GEF4 Geometry]]-based shapes, as well as abstractions that are needed in the context of graphical editors and views, i.e. visual anchor implementations and a connection abstraction. Also enhances the JavaFX-SWT-Integration with forwarding of touch gestures and provides proper support for embedding SWT Controls via a generic adapter into a JavaFX scene graph (within the context of the JavaFX SWT integration). 
  
* [[Image:Ok_green.gif]][[GEF/GEF4/Cloudio | GEF4 Cloudio]] - Provides support for visualizing tag clouds. (Refactored out of the Zest2 code base, see [https://bugs.eclipse.org/bugs/show_bug.cgi?id=420061 420061] for details)
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* [[GEF/GEF4/Graph | <span style="color:#960607">GEF4 Graph</span>]] Provides a simply, UI-independent data-model (Graph, Node, Edge) for representing directed graphs. Is used as input/output model by [[GEF/GEF4/DOT | GEF4 DOT]] and underlying visualization-model for [[GEF/GEF4/Zest | GEF4 Zest]].
  
* [[Image:Progress.gif]][[GEF/GEF4/Zest | GEF4 Zest]] - Transferred from original Zest2 code base, already adopted to GEF4 namespace and versioning, and integrated into GEF4 Git repository and update-site. Not yet fully adopted/re-modularized to depend on other GEF4 components only (i.e. still dependent on Draw2d 3.x). However, the [[GEF/GEF4/Layout | GEF4 Layout]], [[GEF/GEF4/Graph | GEF4 Graph]], and [[GEF/GEF4/Cloudio | GEF4 Cloudio]] components have already been factored out ([https://bugs.eclipse.org/bugs/show_bug.cgi?id=372365 372365]).
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* [[GEF/GEF4/Layout | <span style="color:#7C866A">GEF4 Layout</span>]] - Provides layout algorithm implementations as well as a model facade to adapt layout model data for these algorithms.
  
== Bugs/Enhancements ==
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* [[GEF/GEF4/MVC | <span style="color:#05124E">GEF4 MVC (MVC / MVC.UI / MVC.FX / MVC.FX.UI)</span>]] - The core model-view-controller framework to build up graphical editors and views. Provides an UI toolkit independent and a JavaFX specific layer, as well as Eclipse-UI integration for both. Can be used to build standalone and Eclipse-integrated editors and views.
Bugzilla components (for those listed above) are created one by one as parts of the remaining code base are migrated. In addition, all bugs related to [[GEF/GEF4 | GEF4]] are prefixed <code>[GEF4]</code>. [https://bugs.eclipse.org/bugs/buglist.cgi?query_format=advanced&list_id=674650&short_desc=%5BGEF4%5D&short_desc_type=casesubstring&classification=Tools&product=GEF Here] is a list of all bugs currently related to [[GEF/GEF4 | GEF4]].
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== Source Code ==
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* [[GEF/GEF4/Zest | <span style="color:#206FAD">GEF4 Zest (Zest.FX / Zest.FX.UI)</span>]] - Visualization framework that supports visualization of [[GEF/GEF4/Graph | GEF4 Graph]]-based models, integrating automated layout based on [[GEF/GEF4/Layout | GEF4 Layout]].
The complete source code of [[GEF/GEF4 | GEF4]] is located in the [http://git.eclipse.org/c/gef/org.eclipse.gef4.git/ GEF4 Git repository]. For further information on how to obtain it and how set-up in order to contribute, please refer to the [[GEF/Contributor Guide | GEF Project Contributor Guide]].
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== Update Sites ==
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* [[GEF/GEF4/DOT | <span style="color:#561D8E">GEF4 DOT (DOT / DOT.UI)</span>]] Provides a basic [http://www.graphviz.org GraphViz] [http://www.graphviz.org/content/dot-language DOT]-Editor (Xtext) as well as a [[GEF/GEF4/Zest | GEF4 Zest]]-based [http://www.graphviz.org/content/dot-language DOT]-visualization.
A Tycho-based build infrastructure for the GEF4 provisional component has been configured under [https://hudson.eclipse.org/hudson/job/gef4-master https://hudson.eclipse.org/hudson/job/gef4-master]. The build job is triggered hourly in case of changes to the source code repository and further once per day. It produces an update-site, which does not get promoted to downloads.eclipse.org, but can directly be consumed from:
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* [https://hudson.eclipse.org/hudson/job/gef4-master/lastSuccessfulBuild/artifact/update-site https://hudson.eclipse.org/hudson/job/gef4-master/lastSuccessfulBuild/artifact/update-site]
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* [[GEF/GEF4/Cloudio | <span style="color:#8A3572">GEF4 Cloudio</span>]]  - Provides support for visualizing tag clouds. Is based on SWT/JFace, integrated in the Eclipse UI, and will (at least for now) not be ported to JavaFX.
  
In addition to this, integration, milestones, and release builds are promoted to downloads.eclipse.org and can be found here:
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== Developer Resources ==
  
* [http://download.eclipse.org/tools/gef/gef4/updates/integration http://download.eclipse.org/tools/gef/gef4/updates/integration]
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All relevant information about how to obtain our source code, where to find our Hudson build jobs, update sites (CI, milestones, releases), mailing lists, or our forum, etc. can all be found in the respective sections of the [https://projects.eclipse.org/projects/tools.gef GEF project dashboard]. In addition to this, there is a dedicated [[GEF/Contributor Guide | Contributor Guide]] that describes how to setup a workspace, provide a patch, execute a headless Tycho-build, and more.
* [http://download.eclipse.org/tools/gef/gef4/updates/milestones http://download.eclipse.org/tools/gef/gef4/updates/milestones]
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* [http://download.eclipse.org/tools/gef/gef4/updates/releases http://download.eclipse.org/tools/gef/gef4/updates/releases]
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Note that while integration builds are promoted automatically once per week (every friday), milestone and release builds are published only manually on the respective occasions (not yet). Further note that these update sites are merged (so old builds are preserved), while the nightly update site gets replaced on each build.
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The reference documentation for each GEF4 component is referenced from within the [[#Components / Reference Documentation | components]] section.
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== Further Reading ==
 +
 
 +
Further information about the history and current plans, as well as on technical details can be inferred from the following presentations/articles/posts:
 +
* [http://www.eclipsecon.org/2012/sites/eclipsecon.org.2012/files/GEF_Past_Present_Future_0.pdf Alexander Nyßen (2012): GEF - Past, Present, and Future, EclipseCon NA, Reston (VA), 2012]
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* [http://www.eclipsecon.org/europe2012/sites/eclipsecon.org.europe2012/files/GEF4_Share_And_Enjoy_0.pdf Alexander Nyßen (2012): GEF4 - Share And Enjoy..., EclipseCon Europe, Ludwigsburg, 2012]
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* [http://www.eclipsecon.org/2013/sessions/gef4-share-and-enjoy Alexander Nyßen (2013): GEF4 - (Continue to) Share and Enjoy..., EclipseCon NA, Boston (MA), 2013]
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* [[media:GEF4_SwtFX.pdf | Alexander Nyßen (2013): GEF4 SwtFX (Lightning Talks), EclipseCon Europe, Ludwigsburg, 2013 ]]
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* [[media:GEF4.pdf | Alexander Nyßen (2013): GEF4, RheinJug, Düsseldorf, 2013 ]]
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* [https://www.eclipsecon.org/na2014/sites/default/files/slides/GEF4_There_s_really_something_going_on_0.pdf Alexander Nyßen (2014): GEF4 - There's really something going on!, EclipseCon NA, San Francisco (CA), 2014]
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* [https://www.eclipsecon.org/europe2014/sites/default/files/slides/GEF4_Our_mission_to_Mars.pdf Alexander Nyßen (2014): GEF4 - Our mission to Mars, EclipseCon Europe, Ludwigsburg, 2014]
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* [http://nyssen.blogspot.de/2014/11/iadaptable-gef4s-interpretation-of.html Alexander Nyßen (2014): IAdaptable - GEF4's Interpretation of a Classic, ANy's Argument (Blog)]
  
 
[[Category:GEF]]
 
[[Category:GEF]]

Revision as of 11:16, 15 April 2015


GEF4 is the unified effort of the Graphical Editing Framework (GEF) project team to develop a new GEF 4.x code base as a modernization of the current production components Draw2d 3.x, GEF (MVC) 3.x, and Zest 1.x.

Being developed in parallel to maintaining the production components, GEF4 is set up in terms of smaller, more lightweight components, uses JavaFX instead of SWT as rendering technology, and allows to build up graphical applications for Eclipse (using a JavaFX-SWT-integration) as well as standalone.

Please note that all GEF4 API is still provisional, i.e. there is no released API yet. Therefore, all API-packages are exported with the x-internal directive. To differentiate them from non-API packages, all non-API packages are explicitly named as 'internal' and are either not exported by the bundle manifest, or only via an x-friends directive (if they are used in other test bundles, etc.). You may want to consult the Contributor Guide for details on how to set up your IDE to get rid of any restricted access warnings that are caused by this policy.

Current Status

All GEF4 components are part of the GEF 3.10.0 (Mars) contribution to the Mars simultaneous release.

Having complete the migration of the Zest 2.x code base to GEF4 with Mars M6 (see #372365 for details), we are currently working on closing parts of the remaining functional gap between GEF4 and GEF 3.x. From M7 onwards we will concentrate on augmenting the reference documentation.

Components / Reference Documentation

GEF4 is internally constituted of the following nine components (with their respective sub-modules). The reference documentation for each component may be accessed via the component links.

GEF4-Components.png

  • GEF4 Common - Provides basic abstractions and infrastructure used by (potentially) all other GEF4 components, including an enhanced adaptable pattern and notification support.
  • GEF4 FX (FX / FX.UI) - Provides support for rendering GEF4 Geometry-based shapes, as well as abstractions that are needed in the context of graphical editors and views, i.e. visual anchor implementations and a connection abstraction. Also enhances the JavaFX-SWT-Integration with forwarding of touch gestures and provides proper support for embedding SWT Controls via a generic adapter into a JavaFX scene graph (within the context of the JavaFX SWT integration).
  • GEF4 Graph Provides a simply, UI-independent data-model (Graph, Node, Edge) for representing directed graphs. Is used as input/output model by GEF4 DOT and underlying visualization-model for GEF4 Zest.
  • GEF4 Layout - Provides layout algorithm implementations as well as a model facade to adapt layout model data for these algorithms.
  • GEF4 MVC (MVC / MVC.UI / MVC.FX / MVC.FX.UI) - The core model-view-controller framework to build up graphical editors and views. Provides an UI toolkit independent and a JavaFX specific layer, as well as Eclipse-UI integration for both. Can be used to build standalone and Eclipse-integrated editors and views.
  • GEF4 Cloudio - Provides support for visualizing tag clouds. Is based on SWT/JFace, integrated in the Eclipse UI, and will (at least for now) not be ported to JavaFX.

Developer Resources

All relevant information about how to obtain our source code, where to find our Hudson build jobs, update sites (CI, milestones, releases), mailing lists, or our forum, etc. can all be found in the respective sections of the GEF project dashboard. In addition to this, there is a dedicated Contributor Guide that describes how to setup a workspace, provide a patch, execute a headless Tycho-build, and more.

The reference documentation for each GEF4 component is referenced from within the components section.

Further Reading

Further information about the history and current plans, as well as on technical details can be inferred from the following presentations/articles/posts:

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