Eclipse Plug-in Validation

The Eclipse framework provides the Eclipse Application (formerly the Runtime Workbench) launch configuration for testing and debugging plug-ins that you are developing. This launch type launches a separate workbench instance using the same Eclipse installation hosting your development environment and providing access to all plug-ins in your development environment, including those that you are developing in a plug-in project.

ACTF contributes the Eclipse Application with ACTF launch configuration type to facilitate performing validations of your plug-ins during this phase of plug-in development. Results are precisely the same as running a standard Eclipse Application launch configuration, except that validation reports are generated while your plug-ins are executing.

Note: The Eclipse Application with ACTF configuration is available only in run mode and not in debug mode.

To launch an Eclipse Application with ACTF:

  1. In the Plug-in Development Perspective, choose Run->Run....

  2. If you already have a ACTF Launch configuration, skip this step. If this is the first configuration of this type you have attempted to launch, the dialog will look something like this:

  3. Select Eclipse Application with ACTF from the list. Right-click on this item and select New. Give your configuration a name and save the configuration by selecting Apply.

  4. Now select the ACTF Launch Configuration you wish to run. Notice that the ACTF tab of the configuration contains only one read-only text field, instructing you to configure ACTF from the preference pages.

  5. Press the Run button. Launching the second Eclipse instance may take several minutes if validation is active. You can uncheck the Perform validation checkbox in the ACTF Runtime view to hasten the launch process. Recheck the toggle when you are ready to start using the plug-ins you want to validate.
  6. As you work in the newly launched Eclipse workbench instance, validation violations will be generated and put into the Validation Report view.

Important: Be sure that the appropriate system properties are present for your JVM version on the AOP Properties Preferences Page. These include: