How to set up Eclipse TPTP

Question

I need to profile a java application for a customer. It's an eclipse/maven project, so I decided on using eclipse TPTP ( http://www.eclipse.org/tptp ).

I tried to install eclipse TPTP through the update manager from a standard eclipse installation, but I gave up because of the unbelievable complex setup and downloading of dependencies with very cryptic names.

Then I downloaded the "all in one TPTP 4.5.1" package from http://www.eclipse.org/tptp/home/downloads/?ver=4.5.1 but when I start it up, it pops up an error saying "The eclipse executable launcher was unable to locate it's companion shared library".

I'm running Windows XP, Sun Java 1.5, and clicked on "eclipse.exe" in the unpacked eclipse TPTP installation.

What do I need to do to get eclipse TPTP running?

Answer 1

VisualVM 1.1.1 is a nice alternative to using NetBeans, being a standalone app, so you don't have to bring a Maven/Ant/Eclipse project into it's project format. It can see any local Java process upon opening, so just double click your app in the list of Java processes and off you go. You can:

1. Take Heap Dumps
2. Compare Memory Snapshots
3. View garbage collection with the VisualGC plugin
4. Run BTrace scripts to add run-time profiling & debugging advice to your code.

Answer 2

If you update to Java 1.6u7 or better, you'll get access to the VisualVM tool that is essentially the same as the Netbeans Profiler.

I tried to use the Eclipse Test and Performance Tools package, but it just didn't work as well as the Netbeans profiler.