learning (not so new) java IDE techniques

Help! I am an experienced Java developer but my skills are out of date.
1.
What is the best way to set up, build and run a Java Web project (for example, servlets + jsps+ utility objects (pojos)) on eclipse and building with Maven?
Do you, somehow run the maven within eclipse?
Or do you run maven from the command-line?
Where can I find a set of keyboard macros for eclipse so I don't have to use the mouse?

2.
Let's say you use STS (Spring tool suite). Same questions as above.

3. Let's say I am building a J2EE application to run on Tomcat. What is now the best way to test-run the tomcat application? by deploying to a separate tomcat instance or by running some sort of embedded tomcat within Eclipse or Spring?

3. Is Eclipse 3.7 ok to use + Java 1.7? or you do you recommend Eclipse 3.6 + Java 1.6?

Any perspectives are greatly appreciated!

Benjamin Weaver wrote:Help! I am an experienced Java developer but my skills are out of date.
1.
What is the best way to set up, build and run a Java Web project (for example, servlets + jsps+ utility objects (pojos)) on eclipse and building with Maven?
Do you, somehow run the maven within eclipse?
Or do you run maven from the command-line?
Where can I find a set of keyboard macros for eclipse so I don't have to use the mouse?

* - Check out M2Eclipse if you want to run maven in eclipse.

2.
Let's say you use STS (Spring tool suite). Same questions as above.

* - There is an Eclipse Spring plugin, but never used it.

3. Let's say I am building a J2EE application to run on Tomcat. What is now the best way to test-run the tomcat application? by deploying to a separate tomcat instance or by running some sort of embedded tomcat within Eclipse or Spring?

* - I am slightly insane and prefer to run it separately, but many run embedded.

3. Is Eclipse 3.7 ok to use + Java 1.7? or you do you recommend Eclipse 3.6 + Java 1.6?

Any perspectives are greatly appreciated!

* - I would get Eclipse 3.7. It has seemed stable to this point.

I have had problems with Eclipse Indigo in that they appear to have broken the "outline" view for classes and I have to add "@category" annotations to one or more class functions to get access to it. Other than that, it's pretty reliable.

Definitely install m2eclipse.

There are 2 popular ways to run/debug Tomcat in Eclipse (not counting simply running against an external Tomcat). The WTP way is pre-installed in the Eclipse J2EE edition, but the Tomcat environment is limited and kludgy. The sysdeo plugin is much more natural - it basically runs as though you had an external Tomcat, but provides in-IDE control of it. You have to download and install it youself. It's what I use.

Mostly I don't bother with the plugins for frameworks like Spring and JPA. They're not all that intuitive and I waste time fighting them. Easier to do it the "hard" way.