(14-10-2013, 09:09 AM)z3bra Wrote: As long as you don't start from scratch, the method I describe is REALLY hard to implement. Because everything is setup to work with the IDE, and not with specific tools. Also, writing a Makefile for a 5k .java file seems impossible. But If you start from a basic Makefile, and add targets / files when you create 'em, it's easier. It probably take more time than cliking "build & run", but if I can do it with my poor java knowledge, you probably can do it too :)

We are using Ant and we have some pretty complex build scripts, too. In fact we have one guy per project who is dedicated to the maintenance of the build server and the build scripts. The Eclipse config, launch/debug/build configuratoins and everything that belongs to the projects is installed with a script and can be updated from a local SVN server.

(14-10-2013, 09:09 AM)z3bra Wrote: Yes, it is harder, but at least, you have full control on what you do. The same goes for your graphical environment for exemple. Setting up Xorg + WM + shortcuts + programs is much more longer and harder than just installing Gnome and getting used to it. But hey, do you run Gnome ?

That's a different kind of thing. You can't really get a fully customized WM/DE without fiddling around and doing things on your own. In fact I just started writing my own WM :P

When it comes to building such a huge project it's not like we just let Eclipse do its thing. We build everything using custom Ant scripts except for the client side code, but even that can be build with an Ant script.
We let eclipse re-build changed files so that they (in the best case) get hot-deployed during development without a restart or full build of the client.