Pimp My Eclipse – Part 1
As you can tell from the last few posts, I’m currently obsessed with customizing Eclipse to make it a better environment for writing ActionScript. This is the first in a series of posts talking about the things I’m doing to make Eclipse a more enjoyable experience. I should note that a while back I came across a post called Pimp my ‘clipse on Mims Wright’s blog. This post talked about various plugins that can enhance Eclipse. Hopefully Mims is ok with me riffing off his post title 
. Ok let’s get started.
Eclipse Version
The first thing to talk about is what version of Eclipse you will be using. In my opinion it is better to download the latest stable release of Eclipse rather than using the standalone versions of products like Flex Builder or FDT. This way you can take advantage of the latest features and plugins coming out of the Eclipse community. I’m using Eclipse 3.4.1 which I got by downloading the Eclipse for Java Developers package.
ActionScript Editor
Here is the point where there will be a lot of disagreement. Basically you have two options, Flex Builder and FDT. Flex Builder 3 costs $249 but can also be gotten for free if you’re a student. FDT comes in three different versions, the cheapest being $416. Now to the tricky part. Which is a better AS editor? Unfortunately the answer isn’t an easy one. Flex Builder’s biggest plus is that it is not just an ActionScript editor as it is also the only full-featured IDE for doing Flex development. This is huge if you are doing, or thing you may be doing any Flex work. The word on the street is that FDT is working on MXML support but I haven’t heard any time frame on this. For pure ActionScript development, FDT has many features that Flex Builder doesn’t have. If you only do pure AS development, FDT may be a better choice. For me, I’m using Flex Builder as I occasionally do projects that use the Flex framework. Whichever tool you choose, download the plugin version of the product and install it into the Eclipse installation I talked about in the last section.
Eclipse Icon
| Ok this one is purely cosmetic. I hate the standard Eclipse icon and I hate seeing it in the dock. I found a replacement icon using Google images. Unfortunately the site it came from was down so I can’t give them credit. I took the PNG and created .ico and .icns versions which you can use if you want. See the screenshot at the right for how it looks in my dock. Much better in my opinion. |  |
Splash Screen
One thing uglier than the icon is the splash screen. This one is a little harder to change. Luckily there is a nice plugin called Random Splash Screen that allows you to customize it. Download this plugin and put it into your Eclipse plugins folder. Restart Eclipse and then go into the Preferences window. Under the General section you should see the Random Splash Screen option. From the preferences screen you can click to the pick link to choose a new splash screen. I created a simple one that you can use or you can take a shot at something better. You can see my version below.
In the next installment I’ll talk about some important plugins you should install to make Eclipse into a lean, mean, ActionScript machine.
Lee
Thanks for diving into a set of tutorials on how to improve your programming environment & tools.
I realize it’s lame, but I’m still using the Flash IDE for most of my pure AS projects. I’ve installed, and run trial versions of FDT, Text-Mate, Flex Builder, and Coda, but have hit usability walls (not knowing the software), and jumped back aboard the Flash IDE because it’s familiar, and I can get my work done without any surprises. Cheers!
Hey this looks like a nice series!
Looking forward to the next one.
Lee, this is awesome!
regarding FDT vs. Flex–even though FlashDevelop isn’t an Eclipse plugin, I think it’s a worthy competitor. I really dig FDT though get slightly concerned when they release an update that breaks stuff–generally it’s pretty solid and the code complete is tough to resist.
What I REALLY want to see is that ActionScript plugin for VisualStudio. From all I’ve heard this is THE IDE–I’d love to test it out. Not that I think FDT, Flex, or even FlashDevelop is really lacking, but I don’t want to miss out on more efficiency etc.
Keep up the dig into Eclipse though!
@Philip Yeah I really like FlashDevelop too but I really want something that is cross platform, especially since I do a lot of tutorials. When it’s working correctly, FDT is awesome. But I have had issues pretty much every time I’ve used it.
Hey Lee,
just one question. How did you manage to install the plugin with Eclipse 3.4.1. I always get an error as described in this bug entry:
http://bugs.adobe.com/jira/browse/FBE-306
Would love to get FlexBuilder running with Eclipse 3.4.1 any tips?
Thanks
Benz
concerning my previous comment this here fixed it:
http://www.tekool.net/blog/2008/08/20/flex-builder-301-plug-in-now-works-with-ganymede-eclipse-34/
which is quite strange because i`m not on linux and they said it`s fixed in the latest FlexBuilder release.
Benz
Hehe…I really didn’t expect you to talk about replacing Icons and SplashScreens when reading the title “Pimping your Eclipse”. But now I’m curious about the next parts…
I also use FDT and Eclipse (and really like it).
You said that you had issues pretty much every time you’ve used it…could it be that it was in combination with Eclipse Ganymede? Because I also encountered some problems with that combination.
The FDT forum has some posts concerning that:
http://fdt.powerflasher.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=24&t=2340
I don’t know if these errors have been fixed meanwhile…I’m still using Eclipse Europa (and everything works fine). But maybe I’ll give Ganymede another try during the next days…
Something that bothers me is that’s flex builder doesn’t support autoformatting code.
sometimes its hard tot update some code in svn because only the formatting isnt the same
I’m one of the poeple who use FDT to write Flex apps in 100% ActionScript. MXML?? Ugh! It’s fine for prototyping and concepting but I want to code AS, not some convoluted xml tags! So: FDT all the way!
@sascha I have to disagree with you there. MXML makes creating Flex applications much easier. The design view is also something is a big help. Again, I’m not knocking FDT, but Flex Builder is easily the best environment for Flex development.
http://www.henke.ws/post.cfm/Pimping-my-Eclipse-startup-and-other-shizzle
@lee
1: any word yet about my problem I logged in an earlier post’s comment ( http://theflashblog.com/?p=480#comment-474809 ), I have since tried to reinstall flex, but it does not seem to solve the problem.
2: It might sound stupid/dumb, but how do you change program icons? (‘cos I’m new to osx, since I switched to linux(and a bit windows) in 1999, and just recently (2006) started working with Macs and OS X again)
3: I also you Eclipse a lot, but mostly for java -I came originally from an all Linux/Unix working-environment, where Eclipse was (among other packages) heavily used- Will try adopting you workflow though.
Few months ago I was also looking for an icon replacement and found this:
http://gnome-look.org/content/show.php/Eclipse+dock+icon?content=71546
Here’s my repackaged icon (smaller as Eclipse is able to display max 128×128 icons and a bit sharpened afterwards): http://dl.getdropbox.com/u/24071/icons/Eclipse.icns. Place it inside Eclipse.app/Resources/Eclipse.icns (on Mac).
@lee
I thought I would give a try at making a splash screen. This is my attempt: http://kg.mango12.com/misc/splash.png
It’s not very good right now; I’ve made better before.
@KG I love that! Any chance you could post one without the “eclipse” text? I think it would be perfect without it.
@lee Glad you know that you like it! Here’s the splash screen without the ‘eclipse’: http://kg.mango12.com/misc/splash.png
Sorry, meant to say “Glad to know that you like it”.
I wish there was an edit button. Sorry if I shouldn’t posted this.
@KG I just updated this post with a version based on yours. Great stuff man!
@lee Thanks! By the way, in your variation, you’re missing a zero in 2000.
Also, the bar that contains the copyright notice is a bit off-center.
Also, you forgot to update the splash screen link (http://theflashblog.com/plugins/splash.png) with your new version.
By the way, I like your setup!
Also, here’s a version without the styles applied to the copyright notice: http://kg.mango12.com/misc/splash3.png
@lee: Yea I get you. I know that it’s easier to write Flex apps with MXML and Flex Builder but the MXML is simply not my cup of tea. I prefer the greater control when writing it in pure ActionScript. What really makes FDT priceless for me is the Mark Occurrence feature! That speeds up coding by a factor of 10.
Also the fact that in MXML you must ‘embed’ ActionScript into the MXML (or make a script file but which cannot be a Class) is kind of awkward to me.
I’ve been using FDT for a while now and I love it. It makes AS programming so much more enjoyable. Thanks greatly for the FlashTest plugin – I was using an Ant script before and this is way better. Keep doing what you do, Ed x.
@KG Your splash3.png is perfect. I’ll swap it out in the post once I’m done picking up my chinese food
@KG Any chance you could post the PSD for “splash3″ I just want to tweak a couple of things.
@Dave Wouters
To replace the icon, you could
- right-click Eclipse.app
- select ‘Show Package Contents’
- navigate down to Resources, and replace ‘Eclipse.icns’ with yours
or perhaps an easier method
- select the Eclipse.app
- press the Apple + i key for ‘Get Info’
- select an icon you like
- press the Apple + i key for ‘Get Info’
- select the icon in the top left of the Get Info window & copy (Apple + c)
- select the Eclipse.app icon in the top left of the Get Info window & pase (Apple + p)
Standing on your shoulders I made a splash & icon combo based off of Lee, KG, & gui-guru 2007’s
Splash: http://www.leefernandes.com/blog/EclipseSplash.jpg
Icon: http://www.leefernandes.com/blog/Eclipse.icns
Cheers!
I can’t see the random splashscreen option in my preferences after putting the plugin into the plugins folder? Something special to take care of when copying this file?
I managed to change the splash by hand. Just hae a look into the plugins directory. You find a folder “org.eclipse.platform_3.3……” (the dots is for the different eclipse versions. For me it is “org.eclipse.platform_3.3.101.v200809111700″). In there you find a file called “splash.bmp”. Overwrite this to have a new splashscreen.
@lee Absolutely, the splash3 PSD is here: http://kg.mango12.com/misc/Eclipse2.psd
Also, I decided to go with Lee’s space-ish theme, so I made a fourth one: http://kg.mango12.com/misc/eclipse.png
[...] Ha! Brimelow is the king – http://theflashblog.com/?p=483 [...]
Thanks for this.
[...] Pimp My Eclipse – Part 1 [...]
1: My Problem with Flex on installing/updating using the remote site/source feature:
Eclipse RCP Patch 2 for 3.3.1 (3.3.1.v20071204_331) requires feature “org.eclipse.rcp (3.3.1.R33x_r20070802-8y8eE8sEV3Fz0z0GlHJrXvTAUS)”.
seems mysteriously solved(!?!?!)
2: @Lee (Fernandes) thanks, now I can start using my rounded(-up) icons – for almost everything – might post a printscreen somewhere for you to see (will send you a link for it then)
3: Still having problems getting the Flex Eclipse plug-in to work properly. Will try cleaning up some installation files, to see if that helps.
[...] > The Flash Blog » Pimp My Eclipse – Part 1 [...]
[...] tutorial on customizing Flex Builder More Snip Tree View features! FlashTest Eclipse Plugin Alpha Pimp My Eclipse – Part 1 Pimp My Eclipse – Part 2 Pimp My Eclipse – Part [...]
I just made one icon for eclipse based on on the the solar system icons from Dan Wiersema (http://www.danwiersema.com/). Hope you like it.
http://www.mediafire.com/?sharekey=6855d049861ddc8c4c17ca8801618ef75dd7db4bb04191625be6ba49b5870170
I stumbled upon the location of the Eclipse icon. It was posted on Deviant Art. Thanks for the pimp-torial, I spent all day tweaking my Eclipse.
http://nickmitchell.deviantart.com/art/Eclipse-Dock-Icon-76695261
Hej great tips on pimping eclipse.
But i have one problem: when i start eclipse the icon changes back to the standard icon. I have Mac OS Leopard.
Anyone knows how to solve this?
[...] Pimp My Eclipse by Lee Brimelow [...]
I know this is an old post but it seems active…
I am looking for a way to get the flex / as3 documentation for a class by selecting it in my Eclipse code editor and right clicking or hitting a hotkey.
This is the one thing I really miss from textmate, in fact, when coding in eclipse I generally have a textmate as3 project open and copy and paste the class name from eclipse to textmate and then use the hot key control-shift-h from the flex textmate bundle.
This is a little lame and I expect there is something Eclispe for flex like there is for php.
Any leads / ideas?
Thanks
[...] técnicas que você pode usar para pimpar seu Flex Builder, você acha aqui(1), aqui(2)e [...]
[...] the 3 part series by Lee Brimelow on adding enhancements to FB 3 (especially the Snippets Panel). Part 1, 2, [...]
[...] great. I remembered three articles that Lee Brimelow wrote about making your Eclipse look better (Pimp my Eclipse part 1, part 2, part 3). There is a lot of stuff from his articles I did no use, but that could be useful [...]
Lee, great blog post!
You might want to update the FDT pricing information on your blog. The pricing starts at $129 not $416. It is also free for students and open screen projects.
http://fdt.powerflasher.com/developer-tools/fdt-3/buy-now/
Also, now Flex is supported in FDT too:
http://fdt.powerflasher.de/developer-tools/fdt-3/whats-new/
See you at MAX !
[...] Flex Builder Plug-in to Eclipse 3.5 (Galileo). Most this information came from Lee Brimelow’s Pimp My Eclipse articles. I have just widdled it down to something that I can reference for new quick installs. [...]