Eclipse plugins and configurations

Ok, so now I've moved on from netlogo, the decision of which interface and language to use is a pretty big one. After some considerable time looking into the pros and cons of different languages I settled on java, with its flexible use and wealth of support information available.

I trialled NetBeans for a while which I quite liked, but then settled on Eclipse after some recommendations from friends. The brilliant thing with Eclipse is also that i can use it for more or less EVERYTHING! Via plugins, I now use it as my base for java, python and LaTeX, linking it up to my university server repository via the subclipse plugin.

Some details on setting up plugins is as follows (all configured for the most recent Eclipse Indigo):

For LaTeX:
Texclipse - found at http://texlipse.sourceforge.net
In eclipse, go to Help > Install New Software > type the above URL in the  'work with' box and press 'Enter'

select the texlipse box and press next until the process is finished.

For Version Control
Subclipse - found at http://subclipse.tigris.org/update_1.6.x (this is the version for Eclipse Helios. There is currently no updated version for Indigo)

Again, go to Install New Software and enter the URL above.

After installing this there are several things to note. Using a windows machine, I had problems using the JavaHL interface, so I recommend using the SVNKit bundle instead (go to Windows > preferences > team > SVN > SVN interface - choose SVNKit.)

In order to checkout a project from an online repository:
go to the required perspective, right click > import > SVN > checkout from SVN > put the repository location in the URL, for me this was svn+ssh://username@svn.forge.ecs.soton.ac.uk/folder/repositoryProjectName

You dont seem to need the Tortoise SVN programme that is recommended for Windows machines if you use the subclipse plugin.

For Python
Pydev - found at http://pydev.org/updates

Install new Software > enter in URL > select Pydev (NOT PyDev Mylyn Integration)
> click next to finish.
A box should pop up asking you to trust the certificates, YOU NEED TO SELECT THE Antana PyDev; Pydev; Aptana CHOICE, OTHERWISE PYDEV WILL NOT INSTALL
You then need to restart Eclipse

Pydev then needs configuring - you need python already installed on your computer
Windows > preferences > pydev > interpreter Python > new > then browse to the current version of Python.exe > ok > select all of the options EXCEPT PySrc and python.zip > then ok as many times as needed to end the process

All of the information on the PyDev plugin and more can be found on:
www.rose-human.edu/class/csse/resources/Eclipse/eclipse-python-configuration.htm

For Repast Simphony
You need three separate installations for this plugin
1. Groovy-Eclipse
found at http://dist.springsource.org/release/GRECLIPSE/e3.7/ (3.7 refers to the version for Indigo, older version of eclipse will need the relevant version of groovy)
2. Web, XML & Java EE development
found at http://download.eclipse.org/releases/indigo (again you need the relevant site for the eclipse version you have)
under the Eclipse XML editors and Tools menu
3. Repast
found at http://mirror.anl.gov/pub/repastsimphony/2.0.0.beta

there are a LOT of example models available within the repast plugin that show a great range of things that repast can do.

I'm currently trying to work my way around repast, I hope to have more on this at a later date.