Introduction

Usage of gwt-maven-plugin is divided to two alternatives - one using GEP launch configuration and one using standard Java launch configuration. Needed tools:

• Eclipse
• maven
• m2eclipse plugin
• (first alternative) Google Eclipse Plugin for GWT 1.6+ projects

Complex structure of multimodule maven project

The tutorial will use sample structure to describe setup of whole project in Eclipse with possibility to automatically propagate change in source files of dependent modules to final GUI. The sample structure is prepared for extending with new use cases.

Let's consider simplified scenario of one framework module and one customer's web portal.

• Framework module (fw1-mod) can be used by different portals in combination with different modules
• Framework module is developed by us and it is reflecting common behaviour used in these portals
• Customer's portal (cust-war) has also it's own shared module (cust-common) of common customer's behaviour
• Framework module is more generic, customer shared module is specific only to that customer
• framework module is located in java/fw1/fw1-mod
• customer's portal is located in web/cust-portal/cust-war

  This step is common for both alternatives - import projects into Eclipse using m2eclipse facilities.

• File -> Import -> Maven -> Existing Maven Projects
• import fw1-mod, fw1-parent, cust-parent and cust-war
• ensure that Workspace resolution is enabled

Generating Launch configuration

Steps needed to generate one of the launch configurations are as follows:

• if you don't want to change the structure of your project to structure required by GWT 1.6 you will use standard Java launcher mvn -Duse.google.eclipse.plugin=false gwt:eclipse
• if you have GWT 1.6 compatible structure you can use GEP mvn gwt:eclipse
• there will be a launch configuration generated e.g. sk.seges.mmi.cust.Universe.launch
• copy it to .metadata/.plugins/org.eclipse.debug.core/.launches directory of your workspace
• re/start eclipse

Java App. Launch configuration

For non-GWT 1.6 projects the hardest part, modification of the classpath of the launch configuration:

• open launch configuration
• follow these steps as described here
  • select "Classpath" tab
  • select "User Entries"
  • press "Advanced"
  • select "Add folder", for each project that cust-war is dependent of add its source/resource directories
• these dependencies must be before "cust-war (default classpath)" so the hosted mode can recognize direct change - see the image below

Such launch configuration can be reused and doesn't need modification until dependency change. It is running hosted mode directly. If all dependent module classpaths are not before cust-war default classpath hosted mode doesn't know of the change and reinstall or clean of that changed project is needed.

Final word

With any launch configuration you can do following:

• run hosted mode with launcher
• modify e.g. a string in Location class in fw1-mod
• press Ctrl+S in Eclipse
• press Refresh button in hosted mode
• voila! change appears