Creating a Simple SWT Application in Eclipse

Keywords: SWT application Eclipse example simple tutorial AWT Swing

This page shows you how to use Eclipse to create a very simple SWT application with a couple windows, just to get you going.  This example uses Eclipse 3.1.2, which you can download from http://eclipse.org .  It also uses the Eclipse Visual Editor, which may be downloaded here.  If you're using Eclipse 3.1.2, please see this important set of instructions for installing Visual Editor 1.1.0.1.

It's easiest to just watch a short demo video, so here you go:

The Demo

Eclipse "Hello World" SWT Application
(19MB Flash video, 6 minutes long -- takes a few minutes to load)

(Internet Explorer users, the Flash content may be blocked by default; click on the Information Bar near the top of the browser to allow content.)

Note that there's a play/pause button and a navigation slider at the bottom of the window.

For More Information

The help in Eclipse for VE is a pretty good place to start.  In Eclipse, go to Help - Help Contents - Visual Editor for Java User Guide.