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JSDT 2.0 (Bower / npm / JSON editor)

There has been no news for quite a while from the Eclipse JavaScript Development Tools (JSDT). Basically, the project was in a deep support phase for a couple of years. However, the situation has changed dramatically and now we are glad to say that the JSDT project has been officially rebooted. This article, which is dedicated to Bower, npm & JSON editor, is the opening one of the JSDT 2.0 series.

Introduction

Bower and npm are considered to be the most popular JavaScript package managers. Bower focuses on pure front-end, whereas npm mainly deals with Node.js modules. The main advantages of using package managers are:

• Dependencies are defined in a single manifest file: bower.json / package.json

• No need to commit dependencies to version control repository

• Easy to distribute among team members

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JSDT

• Continue the working on Integration of dependency management tools like node.js/bower/npm into JSDT, thus in order to make it possible for developers to use such tools right from the IDE. A number of CQs is created and approved, due to make it possible to invoke native node.js/bower/npm utilities installed in user environment:

  • https://dev.eclipse.org/ipzilla/show_bug.cgi?id=9479 - Use of node.js installation on user environment Version: v0.12.2 and later
  • https://dev.eclipse.org/ipzilla/show_bug.cgi?id=9487 - Use of npm installation on user environment Version: v2.7.5
  • https://dev.eclipse.org/ipzilla/show_bug.cgi?id=9488 - Use of Bower installation on user environment Version: v1.4.1 and later
  • https://bugs.eclipse.org/bugs/show_bug.cgi?id=459732 - Bower IDE contribution

• An extension point for configuring and invoking node.js and npm. The default implementation should allow users to select their node/npm installation as preference but tools like JBT should be able to extend and prov