ECF/DocShare Plugin

There is now a plugin org.eclipse.ecf.docshare to provides some support for the ongoing work on real-time shared editing. What this plugin does is expose an ECF Roster Menu in the context menu of all Eclipse-based text editors (e.g. java editor and text editor) so that shared editing can be initiated directly from within the existing editor UI.

Here is the 'slewis' client (the initiator), before starting editor sharing

Here is the 'fliwatuet' client (the receiver), before starting editor sharing

Slewis initiates the real-time shared editing by opening the context menu in the editor, and choosing Share Editor With -> slewis@ecf.eclipse.org ->ECF -> fliwatuet@ecf.eclipse.org

Fliwatuet receives a notice (to be replaced with a new notification system soon) and can accept or reject the shared editing session

If fliwatuet accepts, the editor is opened with slewis current editor content on fliwatuet's workbench

At this point, both participants can edit the text and updates will be immediately distributed and shown on the other's corresponding editor.

So, for example, here fliwatuet enters a new method (baz)

These same updates appear immediately on slewis' workbench. Slewis can also make changes and these are reflected on fliwatuet's workbench

Note that currently this editor does not do conflict resolution, and so the editors can get get out of synch. But this will soon be remedied by adding the resolution code from Mustafa's work on the real-time shared editing, aka Cola.

This new plugin is available via the project set file. Or for committers here