Eclipse 3.0 Kick Start - version

[Jeanne Boyarsky]

Carlos,

Two questions on the book:
1) Does Eclipse 3.0 Kick Start highlight differences from 2.1?
2) Do you recommend the book for WSAD users? I realize that WSAD 6 is based on Eclipse 3.0, so I would guess there is some overlap.

[Carlos Valcarcel]

No, I'm afraid I don't highlight the differences between the two IDEs as there is so much overlap in functionality that it was much easier to cover as much as possible of the useful development features.

In fact, other than IBM Redbooks, there is very little published about WSAD covering 5.1.x. I have found books on WSAD 5.0 and there is already a book out on RAD 6.0, but 5.1.x seems to have been forgotten.

Carlos

[Jeanne Boyarsky]

As I'm using 5.1, I am comfortable with that. There actually were 5.1 books; they were just very late in coming out.

It sounds like the book would still be useful for current WSAD 5.1/Eclipse 2.1 users if we read it from the point of view of what will be in the next version. We will upgrade at some point

Thanks,
Jeanne

[Carlos Valcarcel]

I am a big fan of WSAD, though I know many who are not.

I was surprised at the branding change of WSAD, but I guess IBM likes changing product names on a regular basis. The book is worth reading because anything you know from WSAD is still valid only with more goodies.

Carlos

[Ko Ko Naing]

Originally posted by Carlos Valcarcel:
I am a big fan of WSAD, though I know many who are not.
I was surprised at the branding change of WSAD, but I guess IBM likes changing product names on a regular basis.

Hi Carlos,
Do you mean that the name WSAD has been changed to another name? I didn't know about that...

Since you said you are a big fan of WSAD, do u usually follow the releases of Eclipse or the releases of WSAD? Do u encourage someone to use WSAD instead of Eclipse, if he/she can afford it? Because the company I am working for is currently in this situation...

Thanks...

[Nicholas Cheung]

Does Eclipse 3.0 support XDE? Or I need to install it by myself?

Nick

[Naina Si]

Carlos,

I'm using WSAD 5.1.2, how useful is your book for people working with WSAD 5.1.X?

[Jeff Langr]

Greetings Carlos,

What about the 3.1 "M" versions? Does the plugin architecture for these differ from 3.0?

thanks,
Jeff

[Carlos Valcarcel]

Originally posted by Ko Ko Naing:

Hi Carlos,
Do you mean that the name WSAD has been changed to another name? I didn't know about that...

Since you said you are a big fan of WSAD, do u usually follow the releases of Eclipse or the releases of WSAD? Do u encourage someone to use WSAD instead of Eclipse, if he/she can afford it? Because the company I am working for is currently in this situation...

Thanks...

IBM has changed the name from WSAD to RAD (Rational Application Developer for WebSphere Software). There will be no WSAD 6.0 only RAD 6.0. RAD is based on Eclipse 3.0.

If you can afford it, yes, go with WSAD. But if you can afford WSAD then perhaps you need to check out other IDEs as well in case they will deliver more value for the kind of development you engage in.

Carlos

[Carlos Valcarcel]

Originally posted by Nicholas Cheung:
Does Eclipse 3.0 support XDE? Or I need to install it by myself?

Nick

XDE is a totally separate product. You do not need to install Eclipse to install XDE.

Carlos

[Carlos Valcarcel]

Originally posted by Naina Si:
Carlos,

I'm using WSAD 5.1.2, how useful is your book for people working with WSAD 5.1.X?

It will be useful if you are moving to RAD 6.0 or if you have using Eclipse in addition to WSAD. The book's main focus is on the base IDE and a collection of plug-ins I thought would be useful to developers in implementing J2EE applications. I also spend some time discussing plug-in development.

Carlos

[Carlos Valcarcel]

Originally posted by Jeff Langr:
Greetings Carlos,

What about the 3.1 "M" versions? Does the plugin architecture for these differ from 3.0?

thanks,
Jeff

I have to admit to not spending a lot of time investigating the internals of 3.1. However, as of 3.0 they have been making a big deal about upward compatibility so my feeling is that 3.0 plug-ins should work with 3.1, but I haven't tried it out yet. Perhaps when I start my JDO project....

Carlos

[Ko Ko Naing]

Originally posted by Carlos Valcarcel:
If you can afford it, yes, go with WSAD. But if you can afford WSAD then perhaps you need to check out other IDEs as well in case they will deliver more value for the kind of development you engage in.

Carlos,
Thanks a lot for your great suggestion on my issue... As I mentioned, I can say that the company can't afford for the very expensive IDE like JBuilder... That's why WSAD or Eclipse might be an alternative... Because no other people are using any IDEs like IntelliJ or NetBeans... They are still sticking with high-end text editors like TextPad and EditPlus...

So I might suggest them to start to use a great IDE like Eclipse... I think that since RAD might be too server-specifc, it won't suit us... So let's rock, Eclipse!!!

[Tim Holloway]

I just know that IBM's changing WSAD's name to "RAD" is going to cause ulcers in the recruitment department.

"Oh, you meant RATIONAL APPLICATIONS? I thought you meant RAPID APPLICATIONS! I've got years of VB experience!"

[Surasak Leenapongpanit]

I think he meant Rational Application Developer for WebSphere Software