How I configured my Eclipse IDE
Written by Rudy D'hauwe on August 10, 2013.
This article documents my preferred way of using Eclipse and how I set it up for my personal optimal productivity and the readability of my source code.
- Refresh workspace on startup
- Eclipse heap status
- Code template for a new method body
- Code template for catch block body
- Members sort order
- Selective code formatting
- Setup of the Eclipse copyright tool
This article is currently unfinished and is a work in progress…
Refresh workspace on startup
I want to make sure that my workspace is up to date when I start Eclipse. Because my entire workspace is installed on a RAM drive, this doesn't take any time. To enable this option, go to Window > Preferences > General > Startup and Shutdown and check the “Refresh workspace on startup” option.
Show the Eclipse heap status
I prefer Eclipse showing it's memory usage. Go to Window > Preferences > General and check the “Show heap status” option.
Code template for a new method body
I have replaced the default code template for a method body. Here's the default.
Go to Window > Preferences > Java > Code Style > Code Templates and click on “Edit” for changing the Method body template.
Code template for catch block body
I have replaced the default code template for a catch block body. Here's the default.
Go to Window > Preferences > Java > Code Style > Code Templates and click on “Edit” for changing the Catch block body template.
Members sort order
I am used to let Eclipse sort the members of my classes (shortcut key Alt-S O). This is the default members sort order.
I am personally not too happy with inner classes being first in line, because I feel it's not doing any good for the readability of a class. I therefore changed the members sort order.
Go to Window > Preferences > Java > Appearance > Members Sort Order.
Selective code formatting with the @formatter feature
I enabled the @formatter on/off feature in Eclipse preferences.
Go to Window > Eclipse preferences > Java > Code Style > Formatter. Click on the “Edit” button, the “Off/On Tags” tab, and check “Enable Off/On tags”.
Setup of the Eclipse copyright tool
I installed and configured the Eclipse copyright tool. It will sanity check the copyright notices in all the .java and .properties files. Copyrights will be automatically updated where the tool deems appropriate.
