What is Eclipse RAP

The Eclipse Rich Ajax Platform (RAP) allows Java developers to build rich, Ajax-enabled Java applications that can be run on the desktop or the web - from a single code base.  

RAP uses the Eclipse development model, plug-ins with the Eclipse workbench extension points and a widget toolkit with SWT API - which means that existing Eclipse RCP applications can be run as web applications with just a few modifications.  

RAP is an open source project under the governance of eclipse.org, and is available under the Eclipse Public License that gives you maximum flexibility for your licensing strategy.

Secure Mobile Apps for Business:
RAP Mobile developer preview

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Why RAP

RAP enables reuse: single-sourcing RCP Desktop and Web Applications

The Rich AJAX Platform (RAP) enables the development of desktop client and web clients from a single code base.  RAP is built on the same Eclipse technology as RCP, and provides AJAX implicitly from RAP's library of Java technology components. 

By providing the largest possible web-enabled subset of the RCP APIs, RAP significantly reduces the development effort for applications with desktop and web requirements.

Eclipse developers are up to speed quickly on web development

In addition to maximizing reuse of code, RAP allows developers to apply their Eclipse expertise and employ familiar development tools.  Like RCP, applications are developed as OSGi-bundles entirely in Java and use the same API and extension points as their RCP counterparts.  Everything from development to launching, debugging and exporting to standard .war files works right out of the Eclipse IDE.

RAP works on all popular browsers

RAP makes it possible to implement a desktop RCP application on the web by providing an alternative implementation of the SWT API, called RWT,  which renders the widgets remotely in a web browser. The RAP application runs on a servlet container and clients can access the application with standard web browsers - without an additional plug-in. The framework automatically and transparently aligns to the characteristics and security settings of different browsers - including Firefox, Safari, IE, Chrome and Opera.

RAP demos

RAP Examples

This application shows samples of the widgets available in RAP. Please note that it represents only a small selection of the complete set.

For easy access, you'll find Team Project Sets on eclipse.org that contain pointers to the relevant RAP projects from the CVS repository.

RAP Workbench Demo

See a workbench demo online

This application shows a simple project management system, that is build on top of RAP. Though it is not meant to be production ready it shows a good bunch of the framework's possibilities.

To demonstrate the NLS support, translations for German and Chinese are available. The latter requires your browser to support East Asian languages.

Please note, the example data will be reset regularly.

Getting Started with RAP and Single Sourcing

Are you looking for a solution for bringing a rich client application to the web?  Contact our RAP enablement team to explore the possibilities for single-sourcing your application.  We’ve also provided some resources here to get you started.

• View the RAP videos - View our Getting started with RAP video and visit the Rich Ajax Platform on youtube for the latest videos including a demo of RAP on the iPhone.
  
  
• Download the guide to Single-Sourcing RCP / RAP, Patterns for Single-Sourcing RCP and RAP applications - Get a head start on working more effectively with RCP and RAP.  Download the pdf

• View the Webinar, Single Sourcing with RAP and RCP - In this webinar you'll see a demo of how the Rich Ajax Platform (RAP) and the Rich Client Platform (RCP) are used to create both desktop and web applications using a single code base. No prior RAP experience is needed.

Getting started with RAP in a minute

View the video for an overview of target installation, Plug-In creation and running a RAP application.