Eclipse is one of the most widely used integrated development environments in the world. It is best known as a Java IDE, but through its plugin system it supports many other languages including C++, PHP, Python, and JavaScript. The plugin ecosystem is massive — you can extend Eclipse to handle almost any language, framework, or platform. It is particularly popular for enterprise Java development and Android application projects.
The version of Eclipse available in Ubuntu’s default repositories (3.8.1) is several years out of date. The easiest way to get the latest stable release on Ubuntu 18.04 is through the Snap package manager, which handles installation and future updates automatically.
This guide shows you how to install Eclipse IDE on Ubuntu 18.04 using Snap and how to configure your first workspace.
<strong>Prerequisite:</strong> You need sudo access.
Eclipse is a Java-based application and needs a Java Runtime Environment (JRE) to run. Install the default OpenJDK package:
bashsudo apt install default-jre
If you already have Java installed, skip this step. Eclipse detects the available JRE automatically on launch.
Snap gives you the latest stable Eclipse release and keeps it updated automatically. Install it with the following command:
bashsudo snap install --classic eclipse
The --classic flag is required because Eclipse needs access to system resources that are restricted in the standard Snap confinement sandbox. The download may take a few minutes depending on your connection speed.
Once the installation completes, you should see:
eclipse 2019-03 from Snapcrafters installed
With Eclipse installed, open it from the Activities menu by searching for “Eclipse,” or launch it from the terminal by typing eclipse.
The first time Eclipse opens, it asks you to choose a workspace directory. This is the folder where Eclipse stores all your projects, settings, and metadata. The default path (~/eclipse-workspace) works well for most users. Click Launch to proceed.
After selecting your workspace, you will see the Eclipse Welcome screen. Close it to open the main IDE view. From here, create a new project by going to File > New > Project and selecting your project type.
One of Eclipse’s biggest strengths is its plugin system. You can add support for new languages, build tools, and frameworks without switching to a different IDE.
To open the Marketplace, go to Help > Eclipse Marketplace. Search for a plugin by name, click Install, and restart Eclipse when prompted.
Popular plugins include PyDev for Python development, Wild Web Developer for JavaScript and HTML, and Eclipse PHP Development Tools for PHP.
Because Eclipse was installed via Snap, updates happen automatically in the background. When a new version is available, Snap downloads and applies it without any action from you.
To trigger a manual update check:
bashsudo snap refresh eclipse
Eclipse IDE is now installed and ready to use on your Ubuntu 18.04 machine. Create your first project from the File menu and explore the Marketplace to add any tools your workflow requires. Leave a comment below if you run into any issues during installation.
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