Building and Running iPOJO bundles from Eclipse

This page explains how to build and run iPOJO bundles without exiting Eclipse and breaking the compile-run cycle. Bundles are executed inside Equinox.

1) Import the iPOJO Bundle project

Download the project archive (1.4.2 version is available here), and import it as an Existing Project into the Workspace

Then click on finish

2) Configure the target platform

The resulting project, you looks like the left picture.
Before using the project, you need to configure the OSGi platform. It will be run inside Equinox. To achieve this, open the .target file and then click on set as Target Platform (on the top-right corner). You don't have to change the configuration. It just configure Equinox to start iPOJO (contained in the lib folder).

3) Develop you bundle

The imported project contains a very simple component using annotations. But, obviously you can delete/change it. For XML-metadata, use metadata.xml file is in the project root.

@Component
public class MyComponentImpl {
    
    @Validate
    public void start() {
        System.out.println("I'm started !!!");
    }
    
    @Invalidate
    public void stop() {
        System.out.println("I'm leaving :-(...");
    }

}

Once you're done, you are able to run your bundle !

4) Run your bundle

Right-click on the .launch file and then go on Run-As -> MyiPOJOBundle. Equinox will be started and your iPOJO bundle deployed and started:
Once run for the first time, you can re-run it from the run icon. In the console view, you get your Equinox shell, and you see your application result. If you don't edit the given development, the output is as:

Iterate

Then, go back to the step 3, change your components, and see the new result...
That's it !

Changes in the 1.4.0

The 1.4.0+ iPOJO manipulator allows manipulating classes from a directory (FELIX-943). This feature is very convenient for the Eclipse integration because it avoids creating the Jar and unzipping it inside the Eclipse build directory. Moreover, it allows reusing the Java Eclipse builder (compiling classes).