Re: [platform-core-dev] On demand loading and installation of components

[Scott Fairbrother <scottf@xxxxxxxxxx>]

Hi Pete,

A newbie might want to ease into the
topic with chapter "Exercise 8  Developing Rich Client Applications
with Dynamically Added Plug-ins",  in the 2nd edition of "The
Java Developer's Guide to Eclipse".    This exercise, is
a tutorial style chapter,  will show you how to use the Eclipse runtime
components to dynamically (configure) add plug-ins.  We dumped the
chapter into the RCP bucket (because RCP is way cool) but the content applies
equally to IDE.  The example Hyperbola, Jeff's EclipseCon example
is also an RCP app. I  also describe using the OSGI console. You'll
also want to learn how to use the OSGI console because allows you to watch
what's happening with your plug-in lifecycle. You'll be able to spot problems,
like your plug-in does not progress to the resolved state. 
 
If you don't have the JDG2e book, you
start where I started , look at the Eclipse Update Manger code.  
 

Thanks,
Scott Fairbrother
Eclipse/WebSphere Studio Jumpstart Team
607 Pinewood Dr
Apex , NC 27502

Voice : 919-367-9345  TL:  223-7851

The Java Developer's Guide to Eclipse - http://www.aw.com/catalog/academic/product/1,4096,0321159640,00.html?type=PRE
Ready for Rational Software partner program - http://www.developer.ibm.com/rational/readyfor.html

Peter Manahan <manahan@xxxxxxxxxx>
Sent by: platform-core-dev-bounces@xxxxxxxxxxx

04/06/2005 08:40 PM

Please respond to
"Eclipse Platform Core component developers list."

To	platform-core-dev@xxxxxxxxxxx
cc
Subject	[platform-core-dev] On demand loading and installation of components

Hi, 
        I'm going to be looking at ways to implement
the following scenario it probably has a name already.  On demand
install ? I'm using component to mean a unit of usable function (could
contain multiple features/plugins/bundles etc) 

User is using Eclipse based product. 
1.        During
normal use enables something that doesn't exist (say triggers the PDE capability)

2.        However
the PDE isn't installed. But some "magic" happens.

3.        This
spell causes a sequence of events that at the end installs the component
that was missing.  (leave how it installs it aside for now ) Now the
user is happily using the PDE because it is such a cool tool. 

The problem space  is a a set  products encompassing thousands
of plugins and features all using the same eclipse instance/runtime.

Expand the idea of a not installed component to a not-installed component
that also requires service to the product before it can be installed. So
rather than a straight download from an update site something like an install
program and the user popping CD's etc in may need to occur.

So this kind of capability requires support from the runtime.  Can
anyone point me in a direction to start looking at this?  Browsing
the runtime dev page the Dynamic Support and Stub Plugin thoughts look
promising so I expect this isn't a new topic of discussion.

Thoughts, opinions , pointers to some doc are all welcome.

Thanks,

-----------------------------------
Peter Manahan
IBM Rational Tools
Common Install
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