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Eclipse p2 Packaging and Update - Tutorial

Lars Vogel

Version 0.7

18.01.2010

Revision History
Revision 0.1 -0.216.09.2008 - 12.10.2008Lars Vogel
Created
Revision 0.325.05.2009Lars Vogel
Updated to Eclipse 3.5
Revision 0.4 - 0.714.09.2009 - 18.01.2010 Lars Vogel
bug fixed and enhancements
Revision 0.805.08.2010Lars Vogel
Update to Eclipse 3.6

Eclipse p2 - Update

This article describes how to setup and use Eclipse p2 for Eclipse RCP application to install new features and how to add auto-update (self-update) functionality for the application.

This article assumes knowledge about Eclipse plugins and Eclipse RCP development and is based on Eclipse 3.6 (Helios).


Table of Contents

1. Eclipse plugin updates and installations
1.1. Overview
1.2. Prerequisites
2. Create base application
2.1. Create plugin and feature project
2.2. Adding the p2 UI
2.3. Create category
2.4. Export your feature
2.5. Test
3. Create RCP application
4. Add p2 to your RCP application
5. Thank you
6. Questions and Discussion
7. Links and Literature
7.1. Eclipse p2 updater resources
7.2. vogella Resources

1. Eclipse plugin updates and installations

1.1. Overview

The Eclipse platform provides an installation and update mechanism called p2. This update mechanism allow to install new Eclipse functionality and to update existing. Eclipse p2 can be integrated into Eclipse RCP applications.

The update and installation of functionality with p2 is based on Eclipse Features Feature simply describe a list of plugins and other features.

1.2. Prerequisites

You should know how to develop Eclipse plugins and Eclipse RCP application. See Eclipse Plugins Development and Eclipse RCP Development for further information.