Eclipse IDE: Steps to Download and Install

Eclipse IDE is one of the most popular open-source platforms used by developers around the world, especially for Java programming. Whether you are a beginner starting your first project or an advanced developer exploring new tools, Eclipse offers a powerful and extensible environment with a wide range of development features for everyone. In this guide, you will learn how to install Eclipse, create your first Java program, and explore the plugins and best practices.

Table of Contents:

• What is an Eclipse IDE?
• Steps to Download and Install Eclipse on Windows
  • Step 1: Download Eclipse Installer
  • Step 2: Run the Eclipse Installer
  • Step 3: Choose Eclipse IDE for Java Developers
  • Step 4: Choose Installation Folder
  • Step 5: Accept Licenses and Install
  • Step 6: Launch Eclipse
  • Step 7: Welcome to Eclipse IDE
• How to Write Your First Java Program?
• System Requirements For Eclipse IDE
• Do you need to install Java Before Installing Eclipse?
• Best Practices for Using Eclipse Efficiently
• Conclusion

What is an Eclipse IDE?

Eclipse IDE (Integrated Development Environment) is a free and open-source platform used for software development and was initially developed by IBM, further maintained by the Eclipse Foundation. It started as a Java development environment, but now it supports multiple programming languages such as Java, C/C++, Python, PHP, JavaScript, and more through a plugin-based architecture.

Eclipse offers a wide range of features like writing, debugging, testing, and deploying applications, and also syntax highlighting, intelligent code completion, built-in debuggers, project management support, and integration with version control systems like Git and SVN.

To use Eclipse IDE for Java development, you must install the JDK (Java Development Kit) first.

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Steps to Download and Install Eclipse on Windows

Follow the steps below to install the Eclipse IDE on your Windows system.

Step 1: Download Eclipse Installer

1. Open a web browser.

2. Go to the official Eclipse website: https://www.eclipse.org/downloads/

Then click on download as shown below.

3. Click on the Download x86_64 button (Eclipse Installer for Windows 64-bit).

4. Save the file (e.g., eclipse-inst-jre-win64.exe) to a known folder.

Step 2: Run the Eclipse Installer

1. Navigate to the folder where the installer is saved.

2. Double-click on the eclipse-inst-jre-win64.exe file.

3. If prompted by User Account Control (UAC), click Yes.

Step 3: Choose Eclipse IDE for Java Developers

1. When the Eclipse Installer opens, you’ll see multiple package options.

2. Click on “Eclipse IDE for Java Developers.”
(Other options are for C++, Enterprise Java, Web, etc.)

Step 4: Choose Installation Folder

1. Choose an installation path (default is fine): C:\Users\<YourName>\eclipse\java-<version>

2. You can:

• Tick Create start menu entry, which adds the Eclipse IDE to your start menu.

• Tick Create a desktop shortcut, which adds the Eclipse IDE icon to your Desktop directly.

3. Click Install

Step 5: Accept Licenses and Install

1. Review the Eclipse Foundation Software User Agreement.

2. Click Accept Now to proceed.

3. The installer will download and install the required files. This may take a few minutes, depending on your internet speed.

Step 6: Launch Eclipse

1. Once installation is complete, click on Launch.

2. On first run, it will ask for the workspace location: C:\Users\<YourName>\eclipse-workspace. (You can leave it as the default.)

3. Click on Launch

Step 7: Welcome to Eclipse IDE

1. You should now see the Eclipse Welcome screen.

2. Select a Directory as a workspace, which uses a workspace folder to store your projects, configuration files, and so on.

3. The checkbox Use this as the default and do not ask again will always use this folder for future launches if checked, and work with multiple workspaces if not checked.

Note: For better convenience, check the checkbox Use this as the default and do not ask again.

You can:

• Close the welcome tab
• Go to File and create a new project to start coding

How to Write Your First Java Program?

Once the Eclipse IDE is installed and launched, follow these steps to create and run your very first Java program.

Step 1: Create a New Java Project

1. Go to File, New, and then Java Project

2. In the popup, keep your project name as Intellpaat, and leave the other settings as defaults

3. Then, click Finish

Note: If you don’t see “Java Project,” go to File, New, Project, Java, Java Project, and then click Next

Step 2: Create a Java Class File

1. Right-click on the src folder in your new project, New, Class

2. In the dialog box, keep the name of the program as HelloWorld, and check the box public static void main(String[] args)

3. Click Finish

This creates a .java file with a main() method, which serves as the entry point for your program.

Step 3: Write Your Java Code

In the HelloWorld.java file, type the following:

public class HelloWorld {
    public static void main(String[] args) {
        System.out.println("Hello, World! by Intellipaat");
    }
}

You can also modify the default code that Eclipse provides automatically.

Step 4: Run the Java Program

You can run the Java program in the following ways:

1. Click the green play button (▶) on the top toolbar, or

2. Right-click on the file in the Project Explorer, Run As, Java Application

Step 5: View the Output

The Console window at the bottom of Eclipse will display

System Requirements For Eclipse IDE

Before installing Eclipse, make sure that your system meets the following hardware and software requirements.

1. Operating System Requirements

Eclipse is a cross-platform IDE, but when you are using it on Windows, there are some specific OS requirements as below, to ensure compatibility and performance.

Eclipse only supports a 64-bit OS because Eclipse requires a 64-bit operating system to match the 64-bit Java JDK and Eclipse IDE package, but older 32-bit builds do exist.

2. RAM (Memory)

RAM is important for performance when working with larger projects or plugins like Maven, Gradle, Spring, or Web Tools. The minimum requirement of RAM for the Eclipse IDE is as follows:

Do you need to install Java Before Installing Eclipse?

In most cases, you do not have to install Java separately before installing Eclipse. Modern versions of the Eclipse IDE come with a built-in JRE (Java Runtime Environment) or even a JDK (Java Development Kit), which allows Eclipse to run right out of the box.

However, if you plan to develop Java applications, it’s still recommended to install a standalone JDK on your system.

Best Practices for Using Eclipse Efficiently

Below are some best practices for using Eclipse efficiently:

1. Use the Right Eclipse Package: Eclipse has many other packages for specific development needs. For example, if you are using it for working with Java, download the Eclipse IDE for Java Developers and ensure that you have a pre-installed JDK installed on your device.

2. Organize Your Workspace: You should create a separate workspace for different types of work, like personal, client, and college purposes. Also, use meaningful project names that show the clear purpose of the project.

3. Use Keyboard Shortcuts: Instead of navigating menus and using the mouse, you can use the following shortcuts to speed up your work

• Ctrl + Shift + R to quickly open any file.
• Ctrl + Shift + T to open Java classes by name.
• Ctrl + 1 to show quick fixes in your code.
• Ctrl + Shift + F to automatically format your code.

4. Keep Eclipse and JDK Updated: Eclipse IDE regularly releases updates of its versions for its stability and performance. Hence, it is important to keep it updated. You can check for updates by going to Help and then Check for Updates.

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Conclusion

From the above guide, we learned that Eclipse IDE is an open-source and free tool used mainly for software development, by beginners and advanced developers. It is mainly built for the Java programming language. To start with the Eclipse IDE, there is a need for JDK, and your device should meet the system requirements of the Eclipse IDE as stated above. It has many plugins that make your work easier and efficient, like M2E, STS, EGit, and so on. Further, some rules and practices should be used by a person to use Eclipse IDE efficiently, like using shortcuts like Ctrl + Shift + R, Ctrl + Shift + T, and so on.

If you want to learn more about the Eclipse IDE, you can refer to our Java Course.

Eclipse IDE – FAQs