Eclipse 3.1

I started using Eclipse 3.1 M6 release this week. The killer feature to prompt to switch was the new functionality to redirect console output to a file added to the Common tab of launch configuration dialog. I found out about this when I was searching for some information on how to add such a functionality to the special launch configuration I was writing.

Apart from that feature, I am feeling very positive about Eclipse 3.1. I think the platform is a little faster and there some other nice features that found their was into the release. Some I noticed immediately are:

• Open Existing Project screen now lets you just to select the contaning folder and all the projects in the folder are listed below with check boxes near them. This makes it real easy to open multiple projects in your workspace.

• There is now a Dynamic Help button which opens up the help right next to the IDE. This makes it easier to browse help for a quick look up since you do not have to switch between windows. This is pretty much looks like Visual Studio help column.

• Run-time Workbench configuration in the Run Configuration dialog is changed to Eclipse Application. Settings seem to be mostly the same except from the name which gives the feeling that you are developing a new application rather than a plug-in.

• Class members are colored blue now. What I mean is that if your class has the member isChecked and if you do code this.isChecked, the part after the dot is blue. I am not sure why this is preferred. On one hand, it makes it easier to distinguish the members in code, but on the other hand, it is a little mixed up with strings in quotation marks.

• It is possible to the CVS console now. You can switch to CVS console after you do a CVS operation and see what went on during or after a commit, update, or any other CVS operation.

I am sure I will notice many changes but those were the most apparent ones to me in a short usage time. I was pleased to be able to port my 3.0 project to 3.1 without any problems. I am eagerly waiting the next milestone releases and eventually the 3.1 release.