Introduction: Create a pluglet

You can create pluglets to handle routine tasks. The pluglet functionality offers you an easy way to explore and learn the application programming interfaces (API) offered by the workbench platform and other product extensions. The pluglet source file is no different from any other Java source file. Pluglet writers can specify what Eclipse plug-ins their pluglets require, and this controls the pluglet class path, both at compile and at run time.

This tutorial might require some optionally installable components. To ensure that you installed the appropriate optional components, see the System requirements list.

Learning objectives

This tutorial is divided into three lessons. The beginning lesson helps you to set up the environment needed to create pluglets. After the environment is set, you will learn how to create a pluglet project. Next, you will learn how to create a pluglet. Last, you will run the pluglet.

Time required

This tutorial should take approximately 15 minutes to finish. If you explore other concepts related to this tutorial, it could take longer to complete.

Skill level

Beginner

Audience

The intended audience for this tutorial is developers.

System requirements

To complete this tutorial, you need to have the following tools and components installed:

Pluglets

Prerequisites

In order to complete this tutorial end to end, you should be familiar with the following tasks and concepts:

Eclipse basic concepts, such as architecture, plug-ins, and plugging into the workbench
How to create, install and run a simple plug-in using the Eclipse Java IDE
The elements of a minimal plug-in, such as projects, Eclipse UI views and editors
The perspectives and views of the Java IDE
The Standard Widget Toolkit (SWT) API

Lessons in this tutorial

Lesson 1: Create pluglet projects
To create a pluglet, you need to first customize your perspective and create a pluglet project.
Lesson 2: Create pluglets
Pluglets are written in Java™ and reside in a pluglet project.
Lesson 3: Run pluglets
Once you have created a pluglet, it can be run in the same instance of the workbench, just like any other Java™ application.