Overview
So, I think I’ve finally decided that I prefer Eclipse for Python Web development over NetBeans. (I prefer Wing IDE over both for straight Python development, but that’s another post.) Eclipse’s Python support, via PyDev, seems more advanced and NetBeans has some annoying issues. Eclipse also seems a bit snappier, at least on my machine (YMMV, blah blah).
Eclipse takes a bit more effort to set up, but once you’ve done it a couple times, it’s pretty straightforward. The hard part is keeping track of the links to the Eclipse update sites and remembering a few odd bits of configuration. This document gives details on how to install Eclipse for Python Web development with Subversion as the VCS. The instructions here are Linux/Ubuntu-centric, but the instructions for getting to the Platform Binary–the smallest possible Eclipse download, as far as I can tell–are applicable to all platforms.
Download Eclipse
If you go to the Eclipse downloads page (http://www.eclipse.org/downloads/), you’ll see packages for Java and C++ along with some other options. If you’re doing ONLY Python development, you might wonder which version to download. These versions install cruft I don’t want or need. I finally found what I think is the smallest possible Eclipse package, the so-called Platform Runtime Library.
- Start here: eclipse project downloads
- Find the Latest Release under Build Type in the Latest Downloads section and click the 3.5 link under Build Name
- Click Platform Runtime Binary in left hand nav
- Choose for your OS. I chose Linux (x86/GTK 2), which I’m guessing is the most common for Linux
- You still need to pick a mirror! I use the OSU Open Source Lab link because it’s close to me and fast
- And finally, the download begins…
Install Eclipse
Extract the downloaded package: tar xvzf eclipse-platform-3.5-linux-gtk.tar.gz. I rename the resulting eclipse directory to eclipse-3.5, move it to ~/.local, and create a symlink in ~/.local/bin to the eclipse executable: ln -s ~/.local/eclipse-3.5/eclipse ~/.local/bin/eclipse
Configure Eclipse
Edit ~/.local/eclipse-3.5/eclipse/eclipse.ini. Find the line containing “-vmargs”. Add a new line directly below that: -Djava.library.path=/usr/lib/jni. Save and close. Fire up Eclipse.
Install Subclipse
- Prerequisite:
sudo apt-get install libsvn-java - Help > Software Updates > Find and Install > Search for new features to install > New Remote Site
- Name: Subclipse
- URL: http://subclipse.tigris.org/update_1.4.x (Subclipse 1.4 supports Subversion 1.5, which is what’s installed on Ubuntu)
- Click OK, make sure just Subclipse is checked, then click Finish button
- In Subclipse tree, click first item, Subclipse. Uncheck Revision Graph.
- Next, Accept license, Next, Finish, Install All, Yes to restart Eclipse
- Preferences > General > Editors > Text Editors > Quick Diff:
- Check ‘Enable quick diff’ and ‘Show differences in overview ruler’
- Use this reference source: Pristine SVN Copy
Install PyDev
- Help > Software Updates > Find and Install > Search for new features to install > New Remote Site
- Name: PyDev
- URL: http://pydev.sourceforge.net/updates/
- Click OK, make sure just PyDev is checked, click Finish
- Click top level PyDev check box, Next, Accept license, Next, Finish, Install All, Yes to restart Eclipse
Install Aptana
Note: I haven’t tested using Aptana with Eclipse 3.5 yet. The installation finishes without errors, though.
- Help > Software Updates > Find and Install > Search for new features to install > New Remote Site
- Name: Aptana
- URL: http://update.aptana.com/update/studio/3.4
- Click OK, make sure just Aptana is checked, click Finish
- Click top level Aptana check box, Next, Accept license, Next, Finish, Install All, Yes to restart Eclipse
- On Eclipse restart, the updates window should open automatically.
- Click the top level Aptana Studio Site check box. Under features, I uncheck Aptana Studio Pro.
- Click Next, Accept license, Next, Finish, Install All, Yes to restart Eclipse
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