Eclipse kepler create a feature patch

Question

I am trying to reach at the eclipse source code so I can maybe try to modify/fix. I have had more frustrating experiences - very few.

I tried to follow the post by Ian Bull Patching your own Eclipse IDE

I switched to the PDE perspective and fired up the wizard New > FeaturePatch. Now I am stuck at:

So how I populate the browse dialog ? I want to edit formating of java code by the JDT core. Ideally I would like to be able to edit the master branch of the kepler maintenance release.

Answer 1

Just press Browse and then type part of the feature id you want to patch. Just typing j should show you the jdt feature among a few others.

Answer 2

I found the feature patch to be largely useless (surely due to my own ignorance), and took what wound up to be the easier route:

1. download and install Eclipse for RCP and RAP developers
2. import > Plugin-in Development > Plug-ins and fragments
3. check Directory radio button and browse to filesystem directory containing plugin sources
4. under "Import As" check "Projects with source folders"
5. in following screen browse add target plugin(s) you want to modify/work on

Now you'll have the plugin source in your workspace, completely powerless against your devious ways.

Once you've made your changes and have everything working to your liking, backup your standard eclipse install's plugin X and overwrite with version of plugin X from eclipse rcp, which you do with:

export > Plugin-in Development > Deployable plug-ins and fragments > Directory [browse..]