Java Tutorial - Java Script :
jEdit
jEdit is a Java-based text editor for programmers. As a Java editor, jEdit is targeted
at Java developers and allows developers to extend the jEdit environment
with plug-ins. The following table summarizes information for jEdit.
jEdit Features
By itself, jEdit supports many of the same features as those found in Vim or Emacs. The jEdit keys can even be configured to emulate many of the commands of these other editors. The brace matching is especially noteworthy.Instead of just highlighting the matching brace if the braces are on different source code lines, jEdit draws a line in the left margin between the top opening brace and the bottom brace. This makes it very easy to visualize the structure of the code. jEdit is shown in Figure 4.3.
Also, like Vim and Emacs, jEdit has a macro feature. The jEdit macro facility is implemented using another open source product called BeanShell (http://www.beanshell.org). BeanShell is a Java-based scripting language. Basically, if you know Java you know BeanShell. However, unlike Java, which requires Java code to be compiled into byte codes, BeanShell interprets the Java source code as it executes the code. BeanShell also adds some common scripting features such as dynamically typed or untyped variables, arguments, parameters, and return values. BeanShell is designed to have much of the same power as Java but provides language features that make it easier to use for scripting applications. Macros can be created automatically by recording keystrokes. Once created, the macro is available to be reviewed and edited.
jEdit offers plug-ins as another means of extending the editor’s capabilities beyond those provided by its powerful macro capability. Plug-ins are Java classes written to a specification that allows interaction with the editor. By
using plug-ins, jEdit adds features such as source-code formatting, code completion, and spell checking to the editor. There are an impressive number of plug-ins for jEdit, and the program makes it easy to download and install the plug-ins using the built-in plug-in manager. Each plug-in supports its own set of help pages and configuration dialog boxes.
Some plug-ins also have dependencies on other products; for example,the AntHill plug-in is dependent on the Apache Ant Build tool. Ant needs to be downloaded and installed separately for the AntHill plug-in to work. Installing jEdit To install jEdit, first download the file jEdit403install.jar, and then execute the file. The .jar file is executed on any platform by running the following command:
java -jar jEdit403install.jar
This command starts a Java-based installation program that extracts the required files. For Windows operation, jEdit provides a launcher package that eases launching on Windows and installs shortcuts on the Start menu. Like Gvim, jEdit also installs shortcuts on right-click context menus so that files can be easily selected and opened using Windows Explorer.
