Eclipse

How to Install and Use the Eclipse Marketplace Plugin

In this example, we will see how to install and use Eclipse Marketplace Client Plugin from within Eclipse IDE.

1. Introduction

The Eclipse community has many third-party plugins and these plugins can be added to the individual Eclipse installation. But, in earlier version of Eclipse, this was not an easy way to discover and install these solutions from within Eclipse.

The Eclipse Foundation operates a website, called Eclipse Marketplace, the ‘App Store’ for Eclipse apps, that provides a listing of Eclipse-based solutions. The listings allow each solution provider to specify a P2 repository for their solution. Eclipse users now have a central catalog to find Eclipse solutions but the install process is still not tightly integrated with the Eclipse workspace.

To make this process simple, Eclipse MarketPlace Client (MPC) provides the tight install integration between the Eclipse workspace and Eclipse Marketplace, plus other third party solution listings. It is a new feature that allows Eclipse users to discover and install Eclipse solutions directly into their Eclipse installation.

2. Install Eclipse MarketPlace Client

From Eclipse Juno, the MPC is already included. But, it would be a great idea if we can have MPC on older versions also.

Please follow the steps below to configure market place in the older versions of Eclipse IDE.

Open ‘Help -> Install New Software’

Install New Software
Install New Software

And select ‘Kepler – http://download.eclipse.org/releases/kepler’, or ‘Helios – http://download.eclipse.org/releases/helios ‘ from the ‘Work with’ field according to the version of your IDE.

Then select ‘General Purpose Tools – Marketplace Client’ as shown below.

Select MPC
Select MPC

Accept terms and install the plug-in. You will be asked to restart the IDE. Please do so.

Now, you will see a new menu ‘Eclipse Marketplace…’ under help menu as shown below. Click on it.

Marketplace Client Menu
Marketplace Client Menu

3. Eclipse MarketPlace Wizard

Yes, you have Eclipse Marketplace within your IDE now. You can install plugins as per your requirement from the Marketplace shown in the wizard.

Eclipse Marketplace Client
Eclipse Marketplace Client

4. Search Eclipse Solutions

There is a very effective feature of searching the solutions in the MarketPlace.

In the existing IDE, there is no support for Java 8. Now, from this MarketPlace, we will install Java 8 support plugin.

Java 7 Latest
Java 7 Latest

Please look at the picture given below. To enable Java 8 support in the existing IDE which was not there by default, enter Java 8 and click search icon.

Search Solution
Search Solution

In the wizard, you will see available plugins to enable Java 8 support. Click ‘Install’ button of ‘Java 8 support for Eclipse Kepler SR2’ plugin.

Java 8 Support
Java 8 Support

Select required features as shown below and click ‘Confirm’ button.

Also, it is good to notice that you can install multiple plugins on the same flow by pressing ‘Install More’ button.

Select Plugins
Select Plugins

Accept terms and click ‘Finish’

Accept Terms
Accept Terms

It may take some time to update your IDE with Java 8 support plug-in. You will be asked to restart the IDE. Now, after restarting the IDE if you look at the compiler version, you will be able to see Java 8 compliance level is enabled as depicted below.

Java 8 Support
Java 8 Support

5. Search by Market

The search conditions can be still reduced by specifying Market or Category.

Search By Market
Search By Market

6. Conclusion

In this example, we have seen how to install Eclipse Marketplace Client plug-in used for browsing and installing the Eclipse based solutions listed on the Eclipse Marketplace portal from within the Eclipse IDE.

Mohanraj Gurubatham

Mohanraj Gurubatham is an Engineering graduate and currently running a Technology consulting firm. He also has got a post graduation in Master of Business Administration specialized in Retail Sales. Basically he is a Java and Android enthusiast and he is very much interested in using java whether it be a core java or using frameworks like spring. He has more than 18 years of practical experience in software development using Java/EE Technologies and worked as a technical architect for more than 9 years.
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