Glossary Updates12 new terms added to the glossaries · October 2, 2026, 22:44 CEST
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Glossary · PLC and control programming

Eclipse IDE

Also known as: Eclipse, Eclipse platform

German: Eclipse-Software

In software engineering, Eclipse is an open-source integrated development environment and tool platform maintained under the Eclipse Foundation, which serves as the basis for many engineering tools through its plug-in architecture.

  • PLC programming
  • Vendor product

In one sentence

Eclipse is an open-source IDE and tool platform whose plug-in architecture underlies many engineering and automation tools.

Example

An automation team develops C++ components for its controller in an Eclipse-based environment and its IEC 61499 applications in the Eclipse 4diac IDE.

How it applies

  • Engineering: In automation, Eclipse appears in two ways: as a general IDE for C, C++ and Java code that runs on controllers or edge devices, and as the platform for specialized tools. The Eclipse 4diac project, for example, provides an open-source IDE and runtime for IEC 61499 applications.
  • Integration: Vendors of controllers that accept high-level language code sometimes provide plug-ins or SDKs for Eclipse, so that developers can build and deploy programs from a familiar environment.
  • Maintenance: Tool versions, plug-in versions and SDK versions all influence the build result. Reproducible builds require recording them.
  • Documentation: Development guides should state which Eclipse package and which plug-ins are needed, with version numbers, and explain the project setup step by step. Screenshots age fast, so keep them few and date them.

Keep in mind: product names and features change. Check Eclipse packages, plug-ins and vendor SDKs against the current documentation of the Eclipse Foundation and the respective vendor.

By knowledge.aitechdoc.world · Published September 26, 2026 · Last reviewed

Source: AI TechDoc Blog editorial definition, based on Eclipse Foundation project information

Definitions follow the cited standards and specifications. Where a source is a copyrighted publication, such as an ISO, IEC or EN standard, the definition is a close paraphrase, not a verbatim quotation, so as not to infringe copyright. We recommend reading the original publication. The sections “How it applies” are editorial commentary by AI TechDoc Blog and are not part of any standard.

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