Eclipse plugin development for Eclipse

Question

Hi,

how do I start to develop a plugin for Eclipse? I need a tool which isn't out there yet for my further development... so my main concerns are:

-How to add a perspective?
-How to add menu items?
-How to add a view into the "Show Views" menu?
-How to add to the preference pane? 
-How do I get information, like 
   * where is the workspace?
   * which files are open in the editor?
   * which projects are collapsed / expanded in the left projects view?
   * .....
-Which conventions (naming...) should I consider?
-How to set up update site/deployment?

Can you give me some hints, links, tutorials....

Dont get me wrong. I am using Eclipse RCP for developing stand alone apps for quite some time, so I am familiar with the techniques, but I never started to develop a plugin for Eclipse itself.

Thanks

Answer 1

The simplest way is still to download and installed the RCP edition of eclipse (that you are using).

With it comes a series of project templates which will illustrate precisely the topics you want to explore, both for RCP standalone but also for Eclipse contribution itself.

See this article for instance to add contributions to eclipse.

The Eclipse Platform allows a plug-in to extend other plug-ins, allowing for a tight integration and therefore a better experience for the end user.
This article illustrates how to contribute actions to views and editors of other plug-ins, and allowing for others to contribute to your own custom views and editors.

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You will find more answer in the Eclipse parecuts series of tips, and which includes an excellent Eclipse Plugins Tutorial

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Other corner articles like Creating an Eclipse View will answer some of your question like how to add a view in the Show View menu.