Documenting my Eclipse setup as I install onto a fresh Ubuntu 11.04 machine.
First, is the choice of Eclipse package. There are several that will work for Python/Django – basically any of the Language IDE focused bundles. This time I am using the Java EE setup (v3.7.1), but I have also installed the standard Java and C/C++ builds with success.
I wish that there was an install procedure for Eclipse that would setup the menus, etc. The package available in the Ubuntu Software Center is usually an older version (currently 3.5) and is a basic install only. It is up to the user to add the additional features desired. Instead, I download the package, extract to /opt, and setup the menus myself.
Next is Aptana Studio 3. This includes PyDev (which supplies Python and Django functionality), web tools, Ruby support, and other goodies. For Python/Django support only, I have used the standalone PyDev install instead. However, once PyDev is installed, the Aptana install complains if installed later.
Also important is version control support. Eclipse comes with CVS included, and clients for other systems are available. Since I use Subversion, I install the Subclipse add-in from Tigrs. Check the version numbers of both your Eclipse and svn installs to select the correct Subclipse package. Eclipse will complain about JavaHL not being available the first time SVN is used. There is a setting in Eclipse (under Team/SVN) to switch to the SVNKit client.
I have also used Eclipse SQL Explorer for database access. It is a bit of a fight to get the proper drivers and configuration all figured out, but worth it to have DB commands within the Eclipse environment here. Read more about SQL Explorer in this earlier post.
That is pretty much it. I may at a later date talk about setting up virtual environments in Eclipse, so stay tuned.
Any questions or suggestions? Please post a comment below.