So does Eclipse run or doesn't it?
If it does, and you just don't have JRE available for Java programming, then creat e a new Java Project, then add a JRE by

1. Properties of the Java project (in the context menu of the project)
2. tree item "Java Build Path"
3. there on the right hand side, click the button "Add Library..."

then follow the steps (for JRE System library) to point Eclipse at one of your Java installations.

I've had various problems with packaging up JARs, but I've installed Eclipse on two windows machines and my Mac, multiple times, with no problems. You must have the same curse I have with BF :)

I'm running Eclipse with 1.5.0_02. All you need is "at least" 1.4.1. I'd recommend 1.5 because the graphics performance seems better.

BTW, I'm not a hugh eclipse fan. I found my days in the past using Visual Cafe far more productive but my current customer won't spring for an IDE for the development team, so Eclipse it is. It's better than "vi". (And yes, there are still team members who feel manly 'cause they use "vi" and don't need the frilliness of an IDE. I'm sometimes surprised these people live in houses and not caves 'cause caves are all anyone needs.)

I live and breathe Eclipse every day professionally, so I might be able to help here and there. 1.3 is ancient. All the cool kids are using 1.5, grandpa! CLASSPATH is a relic that is no longer needed. As of this moment, you should be using Eclipse 3.1.1, and use JDK 5.0 Update 6 (otherwise known as J2SE1.5--Sun has rediculous versioning). If you don't run any java applications and only needed to install the JDK to test drive Eclipse, I'd just uninstall the JDK you already installed and start from scratch with 1.5. Eclipse is a big greedy bastard that will chew through your memory like nothing you've ever seen before. I wouldn't run it with anything less than a gig of memory. Anyone who says otherwise has lost their credibility in my book. I'm no apologist. Just for the record, I think this exercise is futile. I've heard you slam Java/Sun/Eclipse so many times that I think it's impossible for you to remain objective. I've played around with Squeak and its object browser, and it's an apples to oranges thing. Eclipse makes the lives of Java developers easier.

James, just download Dolphin and install the IntelliDolphin extensions Tim MacKinnon made: http://www.xpdeveloper.net/xpdwiki/Wiki.jsp?page=IntelliDolphin This way you can see some of the things java people are asking for in action, whilst still making use of your smalltalk knowledge.

Comment by James Robertson

Mike, I'm the Product Manager here at Cincom, and there are intellisense add-ons for VW :)

One of the major reasons I quit my last job was the sheer frustation I felt trying to work with WSAD after having used VAJ before that. Then last year (before Apple got their act together with XCode and WebObjects), I tried to use Eclipse to work with WebObjects... It was almost enough to make me give up WebObjects. I can see from the massive book I bought on Eclipse (about 700pp) that it has some nice features. but it is just so unusable for me. Even though Eclipse is free, I ended up spending about $800 for the next point release of WebObjects and OS X so that I could get a smooth-working WebObjects environment.

James, in the Control Panel, run the "Java Plugin". Then click on the "Advanced" tab. You will then be able to select the version of the runtime environment you want. Hope this helps

James as product manager maybe you can explain why all the features of Visual Works are hidden away on your website? I think Mike's feedback is actually quite valid - your marketing collatoral has nothing to entice developers with how cool your product is, just hand wavy pictures of people in suits. While it may be sad that today's developers are enticed by code completion, tab navigation, keyboard driven refactorings - I actually am starting to agree with them. Having a fun environment that shaves of time here and there and shows some thought into how to help you (over and above what the sheer power of the language can do) and makes you feel happier and more productive (and maybe you aren't but by feeling that way you are more likely to tell others). Eclipse and IntelliJ do that for you - and they make a rather annoying language more fun. Smalltalk has relied a lot on its language elegance for too long... its looking sad and tired, which is why my hat goes off to the Dolphin guys for bringing the excitement back. I hope your new visual works release has also considered this. I downloaded 7.1, 6 months ago, and it was ok - but not exciting. Functionally it was very rich, but lacking in ooomph. I loaded a code completion addon from the Store - it was ok, it did the job but it didn't look very good. Eventually my enthusiasm waned and i stoped using VW - sorry. Now Ruby is on the scene - there are videos for using rails, its slick advertising and lots of excitement (although everyone is crying for an IDE like Dolphin). So why aren't you guys making videos' and screen cams to show off VisualWorks? Sort of the "if you thought Ruby was cool - check out this" kind of stuff? I don't get it? But maybe you guys are just so big that you don't notice this anymore? Tim

Comment by James Robertson

Yes, I know that our website and collateral have issues. I address some of that failing via this blog - check out some of the screencasts I've done, for instance. That comes off as an excuse, I know - but I don't have full control over our website, so I do what I can.

IntelliJ IDEA :: Refactoring with IntelliJ IDEA Live Demos

James, please listen: what IntelliDolphin is has NOTHING to do with intellisense. Did you even read the blasted link I posted? Do you actually WANT to learn what we're talking about. IntelliDolphin is about - well just read the IntelliDolphin page and see for yourself. Take a look at the video Tim posted on his site to show the thing in operation. I know you're the product manager for Cincom Smalltalk, thats why I am so continually agast and your lack of willingness to listen and understand thousands of potential customers who are daily banging on your blog telling you exactly what they want And all they get back are comments starting with the word "Heh," or containing statements along the lines of "I'm happy to let you wallow in your lack of productivity". James, next time your in London, let me know and we can meet and I can show you what I'm talking about. Coz we are sure as hell not making meeting of minds here in cyberspace.