Eclipse for C++ projects

Owned by Former user (Deleted)
Last updated: Feb 11, 2011 by Former user (Deleted)Version comment
3 min read

This document describes how to use Eclipse project files for the sipx C++ projects, similar to the ones that exist for the Java projects (sipXconfig).

The key to getting builds and output in the proper place (which might be unique for each designer) is some environment settings which should be set in each Eclipse workspace once (see instructions below). You should use a different Eclipse workspace for each branch (same as for the Java projects).

Each sipx component is set up as a project, so that there are project files which allow each to be built and executed/debugged individually. The default configuration runs "make all install" for each project, since the intended usage for this build is during tight development cycles. You can switch to the "check" configuration to do the tests.

Install Eclipse

You will need to get Eclipse (version 3.3.0 at least) (http://www.eclipse.org/downloads/) and the Eclipse CDT (download.eclipse.org/tools/cdt/releases/europa).

Here are the instructions to use these project files:

  1. get the source as usual
  2. configure the source as usual
  3. run "make build" once (optional, but it helps because it creates the output dir)
  4. launch Eclipse. As for the Java projects, you should use a different workspace for each working directory. The workspace should not be in the source tree: choose ~/workspaces/<version> or something similar.

Configure Eclipse

Before using the projects it is important to setup the SIPX_OUT variable as follows:

  1. Select "Preferences" from the "Window" menu. The Preferences window will appear...
  2. Expand the "General" node in the tree view, then the "Workspace" node, and select "Linked Resources".
  3. Add a New variable to map SIPX_OUT to the folder that contains the output for this branch on your system (e.g. ~/WORKING/INSTALL).

You must also setup a variable in the C/C++ Settings to point to the build folder on your system:

  1. Select "Preferences" from the "Window" menu..
  2. Select "C/C++" then "Environment".
  3. Add a New variable to map SIPX_MYBUILD to the folder that contains the build folder for this branch on your system
    (e.g. /home/sipx/WORKING/BUILD) (must be an absolute path, i.e. no ~).

Java variables are set under Java->Build Path->Classpath. Set SIPX_SRC_TOP to point to the top-level source directory, and SIPX_BUILD_TOP to point to your top-level build dir.

You might want to adjust the settings for building, as I found that I prefer to tell Eclipse when to build, rather than it deciding it should on its own:

  • clear "Build before launching" (Window->Preferences->Run/Debug->Launching "Build (if required)
    before launching")
  • clear "Build automatically" (Window->Preferences->General->Workspace "Build automatically")
  • set "Save before build" (Window->Preferences->General->Workspace "Save automatically before build")

Import project files

Import the project files (you will get both C++ and Java projects):

  1. Select "Import..." from the "File" menu..
  2. Expand the "General" node in the tree view, then select "Existing Projects into Workspace"
  3. Set the Root Directory to the folder that contains the source on your system (e.g. ~/WORKING/main). Import all projects (do not copy into workspace).

Launch Eclipse

Exit Eclipse and restart it to allow the environment variables to take effect.

Hints on usage:

  • If it doesn't come up by itself, switch to the "C/C++ Perspective" view (Window->Open Perspective->Other)
  • To get really good indexing and code completion (ctrl-space), turn on "Index all files" (Window->Preferences->C/C++->Indexer "Index all files"). It only takes about two or three minutes to build.
  • To build a project: click on it, then on the hammer in the tool bar (or choose Project->Build project) It does "make all install". Or choose the "check" target to run the tests as well.
  • To run a process: (first you must have turned off the process in the supervisor by setting "process enable=false" in ~/WORKING/INSTALL/etc/sipxpbx/process.d/xxx.process.xml; or run sipxproc -k <processName>) click on it, then on the green play button on the tool bar
    (or choose Run->Run)
  • To debug a process: (turn off the process in the supervisor as above): click on it, then on
    the bug on the tool bar (or choose Run->Debug)
  • To set sipx coding standards (a start, anyway), go to Window->Preferences->C/C++->Code Style, and press "Import". Navigate to WORKING/main/sipXpbx/meta and select the file eclipse.code-style.xml. This sets the proper brace logic, and the 3space indent standard. Perhaps more could come here also.
  • To change the font size in the code window: select Windows->Preferences, then General->Appearance->Colors and Fonts. Expand Basic and change the font size for "Text Font" (bottom of the list). Of course you can configure it any way you want!