Eclipse is an open source IDE package whose projects are focused on building an extensible development platform, runtimes and application frameworks for building, deploying and managing software across the entire software lifecycle. Built by the Eclipse Foundation, this great software package gives developers from all around the world true Cross-platform integrated development environment for building Java-based applications of all shapes and sizes. In addition to Java, Eclipse can also perfectly manage building projects in many popular programming languages such as C, C++, Perl, PHP, Python, Ruby, Fortran, Haskell, JavaScript, R, Groover, Scheme, Earlang, Scala, Lasso and many others.
First version of Eclipse was created from the remains of the project Visual Age fom IBM Canada, which managed to form a consortium that would oversee the development of the standalone Eclipse software made in Java. Attracting members from many influential software companies (Borland, Red Hat, SuSe, QNX, Merant and others), development of Eclipse became very well organized, enabling quick adoption of various features that covered everything from client development, server platforms, web tools, various modeling platforms and extensions.
Main interface of Eclipse is very well maintained, with organized dashboard and tools that enable seasoned professionals and novices who are still accumulating technical knowledge for app development to easily take full advantage from all tools and services that are offered here. The Eclipse open source community has over 60 open source projects. These projects can be conceptually organized into seven different "pillars" or categories:
- Enterprise Development
- Embedded and Device Development
- Rich Client Platform
- Rich Internet Applications
- Application Frameworks
- Application Lifecycle Management (ALM)
- Service Oriented Architecture (SOA)
(source: http://www.filehorse.com/)