Eclipse for Python Web Development on Ubuntu

Published on 29 Jun 2009 in planet python. 2 Comments

Updated 14 July 2009 for Eclipse 3.5. Now using Aptana to install PyDev.

Updated 5 March 2010 for Eclipse 3.5.2 and Subversion 1.6.

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 installing Eclipse for Python Web development with Aptana, PyDev, and Subclipse.

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, 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 3.5.2 link under Build Name.
  • Click Platform Runtime Binary in the left hand menu.
  • Choose for your OS by clicking one of the (http) links in the Download column; 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-3.5.2-linux-gtk.tar.gz. I rename the resulting eclipse directory to eclipse-3.5.2, move it to ~/.local,  and create a symlink in ~/.local/bin to the eclipse executable: ln -s ~/.local/eclipse-3.5.2/eclipse ~/.local/bin/eclipse

Configure Eclipse

Edit ~/.local/eclipse-3.5.2/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 Aptana

  • Help > Install New Software… > Add
    • Name: Aptana
    • Location: http://update.aptana.com/install/studio
  • Click OK, click the Aptana Studio checkbox, click Next, click Finish, wait…, click Yes to restart Eclipse
  • When Eclipse restarts, a Customize Aptana Studio window should open automatically…

Install PyDev

  • Under Web Application Platforms, check PyDev
  • Check any other plugins you want to install (I install Subclipse in a separate step below)
  • Click the Install button
  • An Available Software window opens where more check boxes need to be clicked, analogous to the ones you just clicked (note: annoying)
  • Check the boxes, click Next, click Next again, accept license(s), click Finish, wait…
  • Click Yes to restart Eclipse

Install Subclipse

  • Prerequisite: sudo apt-get install libsvn-java
  • Help > Install New Software… > Add
    • Name: Subclipse
    • Location: http://subclipse.tigris.org/update_1.6.x (Subclipse 1.6 supports Subversion 1.6, which is what’s installed on Ubuntu 9.10)
  • Click OK, expand the Subclipse entry, select all the required items, click Next, click Finish, wait…, click 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

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