By name: eclipse description: Eclipse Java IDE with plugins. Use for Java development.
Eclipse IDE
Eclipse was the dominant Java IDE for a decade. While IntelliJ has taken the lead, Eclipse remains critical for legacy enterprise projects and specific industries (Embedded, Auto).
When to Use
- Legacy Projects: Projects built with bespoke Eclipse plugins.
- OSGi / RCP: Developing Eclipse plugins or Rich Client Platform apps.
- Free/Open Source: Fully FOSS philosophy.
Core Concepts
Workspace
Collection of Projects.
Perspectives
Layouts of views (Java Perspective, Debug Perspective).
plugins
The OSGi plugin system is the core of Eclipse.
Best Practices (2025)
Do:
- Use Eclipse Theia: If you want a modern, VS Code-like experience built on Eclipse tech.
- Keep it Updated: The quarterly rolling releases improve performance.
Don't:
- Don't use for modern Web Dev: It lags behind VS Code/WebStorm for JS/TS.