How to Install Eclipse on Ubuntu

Eclipse is an open-source integrated development environment (IDE) widely used for Java development. It is one of the most popular IDEs for Java developers due to its rich features and plugins.

Eclipse is also used to develop programming languages like Python, C++, and PHP. In this article, we will get familiar with Eclipse features and how to install Eclipse on Ubuntu.

Eclipse Features

User Interface

The Eclipse user interface is easy to navigate and intuitive. It has a menu bar at the top that provides access to all the different functionalities of the IDE. The main window is divided into several panels that display the source code, console output, and project structure. Users can customize the layout of the panels by dragging and dropping them into different positions.

Code Editor

The code editor in Eclipse is one of its strongest features. It provides intelligent code completion that helps developers write code quickly and accurately. The code editor also has syntax highlighting that makes it easy to read and understand code. Users can also easily navigate the code using built-in navigation tools such as the Outline view and the Code Folding feature.

Debugging

Eclipse provides a built-in debugger that allows developers to debug their code easily. The debugger offers various features, including step-by-step execution, breakpoints, and variable inspection. Users can also configure the debugger to stop at specific points in the code to investigate the program’s state.

Plugins

The Eclipse Marketplace allows developers to download and install plugins that add functionality to the IDE. Eclipse comes with a range of plugins that make development easier. Plugins are available for other programming languages like Python, C++, and PHP. There are also plugins available for popular frameworks such as Spring and Hibernate.

Version Control

Eclipse has built-in support for version control systems such as Git and SVN. Users can easily commit changes to the repository, merge changes, and view the history of the code. This makes it easy for developers to manage their codebase and collaborate with other developers.

Customization

Eclipse is highly customizable. Users can customize the IDE to suit their needs by installing different themes, changing the font size, and configuring keybindings. Users can also add their plugins and extensions to the IDE to extend its functionality.

Community Support

Eclipse has a large and active community of developers contributing to its development. The community provides support through forums, blogs, and documentation. Several third-party plugins and extensions are also available that are developed by the community.

Eclipse Drawbacks

1. Steep learning curve: Eclipse has a steep learning curve, which may make beginners struggle to get started.
2. Memory usage: Eclipse can be memory-intensive, which may be an issue for users with limited system resources.
3. Performance: Eclipse can be slow to start up and may have performance issues when working on large projects.
4. Complex configuration: Eclipse customization options can be overwhelming, and the configuration process can be complex.

Java has always been an excellent choice for developers because of its high demand in the software industry. In the past, we have compiled a list of the 10 Best Java IDEs for Linux. It includes many popular Java IDEs, including Eclipse.

How to install Eclipse on Ubuntu?

The Eclipse installer should be available for most Linux distributions in the distros’ default repositories. So you can open up the software center and search for ‘Eclipse’, and you should have it to install.

For example, I have installed Zorin OS 15.1. To install Eclipse on Zorin OS, open Software and search Eclipse. Zorin is based on Ubuntu, so any other distro based on the Ubuntu LTS release has Eclipse in the default repository.

Hit the install button, and the software center will install Eclipse IDE with all dependencies. Now open Eclipse from the application menu.

If your Linux distro does not have a software center, you can use Synaptic or apt to install Eclipse.

Using a Linux distro based on Fedora or Arch, you can use the default package manager to install Eclipse. For example, Fedora has the DNF package manager, CentOS has yum, and Arch has pacman.

Install Eclipse from source code

It is also possible that your Linux distribution’s repo does not have Eclipse installer. No problem! We can download the .tar file from the Java website and install the Eclipse IDE easily.

Prerequisites

Please install Java before continuing. Follow this guide to install Java in Ubuntu or this guide for Fedora or CentOS.

Download Eclipse IDE

It will download the Eclipse IDE installer for your computer. It is a compressed tar file.

Now extract the compressed file. And right-click the eclipse-inst file and click run.

We need Eclipse IDE for Java developers. The installer will start and has a few options. So click on the first option, ‘Eclipse IDE for Java Developers’.

Select the directory where you want to install Java VM and Eclipse. You can leave these fields default. Remember the installation folder; this is where Eclipse will be installed and must be started each time you want to open Eclipse IDE.

Next, accept the certificates to continue the installation.

Accept the terms & conditions.

And that’s about it. Eclipse IDE has been successfully installed on your Linux system. Now click the ‘Launch‘ button, go to the installation folder, and click ‘Eclipse‘ to fire Eclipse.

Conclusion

Eclipse is a powerful and feature-rich IDE widely used by Java developers. Its intelligent code completion, built-in debugger, and customizable features make it an ideal IDE for Java development. Its support for version control and plugins for other programming languages and frameworks make it a versatile IDE for developers.

The Eclipse community is also large and active, supporting and contributing to its development. Overall, Eclipse is a must-have tool for any Java developer.