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Installing JRebel plugin for Eclipse

Before you start – Prerequisites

JRebel for Eclipse requires Eclipse 3.3 (Europa) or later. Some optional features require additional Eclipse plug-ins, such as WTP (Web Tools Platform). This guide and the screenshots were made with Eclipse Indigo for Java EE on Windows 7. The process might vary a little bit for other Eclipse versions and operating systems.

JRebel for Eclipse already includes JRebel itself, helps you generate the JRebel configuration automatically, enables JRebel for applications and servers with a single click, and improves the debugging support in Eclipse. This article will help you to set up the plugin and take advantage of the features.

Contents:

Step 1: Installing JRebel for Eclipse

Eclipse 3.6 Helios (and newer) – Install via the Eclipse Marketplace Client

To install JRebel for Eclipse, open the Eclipse Marketplace Client (Help -> Eclipse Marketplace…). If you open it for the first time, you have to select a solution catalog. Select “Eclipse Marketplace” and search for “JRebel”. Then just click the “Install” button next to it.

Eclipse 3.3, 3.4 & 3.5 – Installing via the Update Manager

Installing via the Update Manager is similar to installing via the Eclipse Marketplace. Go to Help -> Install New Software… and paste in the URL for our update site: http://update.zeroturnaround.com/update-site

To make the installation process go faster, you might want to uncheck “Contact all update sites…” if you already have all the prerequisites. For example, the “Eclipse IDE for Java EE Developers” package contains everything you need, including WTP.

Step 2: Selecting Features and Finishing the Install Process

Select the features you want to install. JRebel checkbox is required and should be installed by everyone (even your grandmother). Here’s what is included:

  • Embedded JRebel is included by default with JRebel plugin for Eclipse. The plugin contains a complete installation of JRebel, the latest stable version, so you won’t have to download it separately — you’ll only need to get a license after installation and you are set.
  • Debugger Integration – This is recommended if you want to use the debugger with JRebel-enabled projects.

JRebel for Java EE plugin is optional but most likely you want to install that one as well. The plugin is recommended if you want to use WTP (Web Tools Platform) with JRebel-enabled projects.

JRebel m2eclipse enables generating rebel.xml configuration with jrebel-maven-plugin in m2eclipse builds.

Once you’ve selected the features you want, just proceed through the installation wizards normally. You will be asked to accept the license agreements, which are the Apache License and JRebel License Agreement. After the installation has completed, makes sure to restart Eclipse.

Step 3: License Activation

After you restart the IDE, if you do now have JRebel license yet, the plugin will notify you about this sad fact and ask for registration. Click on the link in the red pop-up and proceed with the license setup.

There’s a number of options how you can activate JRebel license. Most probably, if you’re reading this you’re interested in evaluation license. Here’s what you need to do.

  1. Get Your JRebel Activation Key
  2. Open the Activation tab in JRebel plugin settings from Help – JRebel Config Center.

    Paste the license code at the Activation tab in JRebel plugin settings and it will be automatically verified. The verified key is saved as jrebel.lic file in {user.home}/.jrebel directory.

  3. Optionally, if you have a license file (jrebel.lic), you can save it to {user.home}/.jrebel directory, or browse to this file from Activation tab in JRebel plugin settings.