Top 10 Essential Eclipse Plugins for Java Developers

There is no doubt that Eclipse is one of the most popular IDEs for Java development, and what makes Eclipse so great all comes down to plugins. There are hundreds of Eclipse plugins for different kinds of tasks and integration with other essential tools, like plugins to download code from GitHub, SVN, CVS, etc.

There are specific plugins for Java development, Python development, creating Spring-based Java applications, and creating Android apps from Eclipse itself. I have seen productivity improvement by just installing the right kind of plugins.

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For example, once you install the EGit plugin, you can manage your Git repository right from Eclipse. You will not need any other Git client. Similarly, adding Spring Tools plugins helps you to create Spring and Spring-Boot-based applications easily.

I have seen many Java developers not really using Eclipse to their fullest extent. Many Java programmers create Spring-based applications like any other Java project, which is not bad, but also not optimal. You can seriously improve your productivity by using Spring Tools pluginsfor creating Spring-based applications.

One Java developer told me that because of their overwhelming numbers, it's challenging to find the right plugins, but the Eclipse MarketPlace has already solved that problem. You can now easily search for Eclipse plugins by viewing the download count to check popularity and, best of all, you can do this from the Eclipse IDE itself.

I think the reason for not using Eclipse plugins could be a lack of knowledge. Obviously, until you know about something, you can't really use it. But what worries me is that this lack of knowledge is not just with beginner Java developers but also senior developers who have reached a learning plateau.

And that's why I am writing this article — to share some of the most essential Eclipse plugins for Java developers, which includes plugins for source control systems like Git and SVN, plugins for build tools like Maven and Gradle, and plugins for frameworks like Spring and Android.

Top 10 Eclipse Plugins for Java Development

Without wasting any more of your time, here is my list of 10 top must-have plugins for Java development:

1. EGit, Git Integration for Eclipse

This is probably the most essential Eclipse plugin for today's Java developer. It allows you to download code from GitHub and provides Git integration for Eclipse. If you don't know, Git is a distributed version control system, which means every developer has a full copy of every revision of the code.

It also makes searching and executing queries against the history swift and versatile. If you are not familiar with Git, I suggest you to first check the Git MasterClass, which provides a complete and step by step guide to master all crucial Git concepts and commands. In short, it is a must-have plugin for Java development.

2. Spring Tools (AKA Spring IDE and Spring Tool Suite (STS))

There is no doubt that Spring is the most popular Java framework, and this plugin makes it really easy to create Spring and Spring Boot projects in Eclipse. By using the STS plugin, you can create Spring Boot projects quickly using easy to use start.spring.io integration.

It also supports Spring Java-Config-based app development, advanced code completion, content-assist, validation, and quick-fix support for Spring apps. It is also perfect for microservice development using Spring as it has IDE integration for Cloud Foundry, including debugging in the cloud.

If you want to learn more about microservices with Spring, then I also suggest you join theMaster Microservices with Spring Boot and Spring Cloud course on Udemy, one, of the best courses to learn Microservices with Spring and Java.

3. Maven Integration for Eclipse (M2E)

The m2e plugin or Maven Integration for Eclipse plugin is another popular Eclipse plugin you need for Java development. It provides comprehensive Maven integration for Eclipse.

You can use M2E to manage both simple and multi-module Maven projects, execute Maven builds via the Eclipse interface, and interact with Maven repositories.

Also, separate plugins are dependent upon which version of Eclipse you are using — as if there is a separate plugin for Eclipse Juno, Eclipse Luna, and higher. At the same time, if you want to enhance your Maven skills this year, you should join this Apache Maven: Beginner to Guru course by John Thomson, one of the best courses to learn Maven in depth.

4. Subclipse

This is another source control plugin that allows you to download code from SVN and perform all SVN related operations from Eclipse. It's developed and maintained by Subversion core committers and is always in sync with the latest Subversion features and releases. If you are working on a Java project hosted on SVN, then this is the must-have plugin for you. If you want to refresh your SVN concepts, you can further check this course.

5. Eclipse Color Theme 

We, programmers, love color, but we all have different tastes. Some of you like the ugly old color theme of Eclipse, but others like dark themes like Vim and IntelliJ IDEA. Eclipse Color Theme makes it possible to switch color themes conveniently, and without side effects. If you like to change color themes or work in multiple programming languages like Java, Python, JavaScript, etc., this plugin can make you really happy.

6. JBoss Tools

JBoss Tools is an umbrella project for a set of Eclipse plugins that includes support for JBoss and related technologies, such as Hibernate, JBoss AS/WildFly, CDI, OpenShift, Apache Camel, Red Hat JBoss Fuse, Docker, JSF, (X)HTML, Maven, and more.

7. TestNG for Eclipse

If you know that JUnit comes bundled in Eclipse, but if you are using TestNG for writing unit tests for your Java project, then this Eclipse plugin can help you. It lets you run your TestNG tests from Eclipse. You can run suites, groups, or individual methods. Errors are reported in a separate tab that enables you to jump to failing tests efficiently.

The plug-in also contains several templates to create tests easily. And, if you also want to enhance your TestNG skills this year and need a resource, I suggest you check out TestNG complete Bootcamp course, which will take from novice to Ninja path.

8. Android Development Tools for Eclipse (ADT)

Android Development Tools (ADT) is a plugin for the Eclipse IDE that is designed to give you a robust, integrated environment in which to build Android applications.

ADT extends the capabilities of Eclipse to let you quickly set up new Android projects, create an application UI, add packages based on the Android Framework API, debug your applications using the Android SDK tools, and even export signed (or unsigned) .apk files to distribute your app, and if you want to level up your Android skills this year, The Complete Android Developer Course is a good resource to start with.

9. EclEmma Java Code Coverage

EclEmma is a free Java code coverage tool for Eclipse, available under the Eclipse Public License. It brings code coverage analysis directly into the Eclipse workbench. It helps in code coverage analysis, and if you used correctly, can improve the code quality by increasing the fast development/testing cycle.

10. JRebel for Eclipse

JRebel is a productivity tool that allows developers to reload code changes instantly. It skips the rebuild, restart, and redeploy cycle typical in Java development. JRebel enables developers to get more done in the same amount of time and stay in the flow while coding.

JRebel supports a majority of real-world enterprise Java stacks and is easy to install into existing development environments.

There is no doubt that most of these plugins feature in the all-time popular list of Eclipse plugins at Eclipse MarketPlace, which is also a great source to find some of the most popular Eclipse plugins for the job. For example, if you are working on Scala or Angular, you can find plugins here to make your job easy.

That's all for now on the most essential Eclipse plugins for Java developers. These plugins are really common, and you might already be using them without even knowing them. Just in case if you have not explored them yet, I suggest you take a look at them. You can find all these plugins in the Eclipse MarketPlace and install them on your Eclipse IDE.

Further Reading

[DZone Refcard] Getting Started With Eclipse

15 Productivity Tips for Eclipse Java IDE Users