How do I install and run Eclipse?
Author: Deron Eriksson
Description: This tutorial describes how to install and run Eclipse.
Tutorial created using: Windows XP || JDK 1.5.0_09 || Eclipse Web Tools Platform 1.5.1


EclipseSW requires JavaSW. Since these lessons are aimed at Java Web Developers, download the latest Java Development Kit from Sun at http://java.sun.com/javase/downloads/index.jsp.

I like to install the JDKW at the root level of my C: drive to make it easy to tell what version of Java I currently have installed on my machine (you can also get the version number by typing 'java -version' at the command line).

C: drive

After installing Java, download Eclipse from www.eclipse.org. I highly recommend the Web Tools Platform version of Eclipse, which comes with amazing plug-ins for web development. It can be downloaded from http://download.eclipse.org/webtools/downloads/.

Eclipse comes in a zip file. I like to extract it to the root level of my C: drive so I can readily tell what version I have installed. I like to give the Eclipse folder a friendly, descriptive name, like 'eclipse-web-1.5.1'.

Eclipse extracted to C:\eclipse-web-1.5.1

That's all there is to it! You should be able to click the Eclipse application and it should start right up.

eclipse.exe