RAP for RCP Developers

The Rich Ajax Platform (RAP) is "Eclipse RCP for the web". It provides a web-enabled implementation of SWT, JFace and the Eclipse Workbench. RAP enables Eclipse RCP developers to build rich browser-based applications written in Java, without having to learn a big stack of new technologies.

Using course material designed by the RAP project leaders and committers, the people who literally developed the technology, this course builds on your knowledge of Eclipse RCP and shows you how to use RAP to kick-start your web development efforts. Our veteran Eclipse developers, with years of product development experience, teach you everything you need to develop RAP-based web applications. Along the way they provide deep insights and give a special focus to techniques for porting existing RCP applications to RAP and single-sourcing -- creating a code base that is shared between both the desktop and the web.

Course participants walk through the elements of porting RCP applications to RAP and single-sourcing in a series of hands-on focused sessions. Keeping a small class format (max. 6-8 participants) ensures that you'll gain a broad understanding of Eclipse RAP and get plenty of individual support from our experts.

Duration: 2 days

Goals, audience, prerequisites

Course Goals 

• Understand the fundamental concepts of the Eclipse Rich Ajax Platform (RAP)
• Apply this knowledge to your web-development projects
• Become familiar with best practices for RAP development
• Explore the relationship between RCP and RAP
• Learn how to port existing RCP applications to RAP and understand single-sourcing -- creating a shared code base for RAP and RCP applications

Target Audience

• Experienced Eclipse RCP developers looking to benefit from Eclipse's Rich Ajax Platform (RAP) for developing general web applications
• Software architects interested in building business-wide software platforms

Prerequisites

• A good understanding of RCP concepts and structures
• Experience using the Eclipse IDE
• Knowledge of Java and object-oriented programming

Course Outline

Introduction to RAP

• Brief history of RAP
• Types of applications where RAP can be used
• Advantages of using RAP for business applications
• Comparison of RAP to RCP
• Single-sourcing
• Migrating the RCP Mail Example

Getting Started

• IEntryPoint as the main RAP starting point
• Creating an empty RAP application
• Launching the application

Introduction to RWT

• RWT history and concepts
• RWT widgets Layout managers
• Working with events and listeners
• Special widgets (Menus, Toolbar)
• Overview of JFace (Dialogs and Viewers)
• Differences between RCP and RAP UI development

Server-Side Scopes

• Learn about the different scopes (request-, session-, application-scope) available withing a RAP application
• Using the RWT class to get access to life cycle management, session- and service-stores
• Using the SessionSingleton
• Base to create session aware Singletons

Workbench

• The Workbench - Eclipse's UI Metaphor
• Windowing: Window, Menu, Page, Perspective, View, Editor
• Workbench advisor classes
• Workbench life-cycle
• Creating workbench elements

Architectural Overview

• Internal architecture of a RAP application (servlet container, OSGi, plug-ins, extension points)

Extending the RAP Platform Runtime

• Creating contributions and accessing the extension registry
• RAP applications as a structured system of extension points and contributions

RWT Custom Controls

• Writing your own RWT custom widget in JavaRegistering your own java-script for client-side widget representation
• Writing your own widget adapter to synchronize the server and client states of the widget

Deployment of RAP applications

• Features and Fragments
• Deployment options (Jetty vs WAR)
• War Archive Creation

UI customization

• Theming
• Branding
• Custom window contents

RCP to RAP migration

• Migration experiences and best practices
• Common problems and how to solve them
• How to structure your plug-ins for single sourcing

Experiences and Best Practices

• RAP best practices
• Common pitfalls
• Functional and Load Testing
• Performance Optimizations

More Info

Format

• Course Duration: 2 days
• Course structure: instructor led with at least 50% hands-on labs and tutorials
• Learn better in a small group: maximum 6-8 participants per instructor
• Equipment: participants supply their own computer with an up-to-date installation of Eclipse

Languages

Classes in Germany are held in German. All other courses are held in English. Further languages are available on request.

Dates and Registration

To sign up for an open enrollment course, please select from the available dates below. If your organization requires a customized or private "RAP for RCP Developers" course, please contact training@eclipsesource.com to schedule a training session that meets your needs.

Contact

Unanswered questions? No matching dates? Prefer a course at your office? Need custom training?
We look forward to hearing from you:

Email
training@eclipsesource.com

North America
(+1) 888 679 8753
(+1) 503 552 1455

Europe
(+49) 721 664733 0