Installing Eclipse in Guest OS (in VM)

Make sure you have java installed. If not follow the instructions here.

  1. On the guest OS (in VM): Install a web browser such as chrome if there isn't one installed.
$ sudo apt update
$ sudo apt install -y chromium-browser
$ chromium-browser #to launch browser
  1. Download Eclipse. This should download a tar.gz file that can be extracted in Debian by just double clicking the file. It can also be extracted via command line: tar -xvzf ecp.tar.gz
  2. Run the eclipse-inst executable in the extracted folder.
  3. Select the required options in the GUI and follow instructions to install eclipse.

To launch Eclipse:./eclipse &

  • Note: you must be in the eclipse directory (cd /ECLIPSE_PATH) before running the launch command.

You can also make a shortcut to launch eclipse by creating a file named eclipse.desktop. Open this file with a text editor and add the following:

[Desktop Entry]
Name=Eclipse
Type=Application
Exec=/home/debian/eclipse/cpp-2018-12/eclipse/eclipse
Terminal=false
Icon=/home/debian/eclipse/cpp-2018-12/eclipse/icon.xpm
Comment=Integrated Development Environment
NoDisplay=false
Categories=Development;IDE;
Name[en]=Eclipse
Name[en_US]=Eclipse
  • Note: Change the Exec path and Icon path based on your installation.

Setting up cross-compilation in eclipse

Source: Exploring BeagleBone by Derek Molloy

Pre-requisites: ARM hard float (cross compilation) and QEMU (emulation) package installed. See here.

  1. Start eclipse, select a default workspace.
  2. File -> New -> Project. Select C++ project and click next.
  3. Name your program and select a working folder. Then select Empty project (under project type) and Cross GCC (under toolchain).
  4. Click next until you reach the config page for Cross GCC. Set the cross compiler prefix as arm-linux-gnueabihf- and Cross compiler path as /usr/bin. Click finish.
  5. Eclipse is now setup to cross compile for the BBB. You build project by Project -> Build All and run by Run -> Run. The executable contains ARM machine code and will run only if QEMU is installed.

Configure Eclipse for Remote access (RSE)

  1. Install RSE on eclipse

  2. Help -> Install New Software

  3. Select work with: All Available Sites
  4. Search for remote system

  5. Select Remote System Explorer User Actions and step through install and restart eclipse.

  6. Open a remote system explorer tab: Window>show_view> Other Select Remote and RSE.

  7. The tab should be open within eclipse

  8. Repeat but install the other available Remote System Explorer install.

  9. Set up a new connection with the bellow settings.

  10. Select Linux

  11. Host name: 192.168.7.2 and Connection name: BBB *Files: ssh.files
  12. Processes: processes.shell.linux
  13. Shells: ssh.shells
  14. Make user to root and add the default password to temppwd

  15. You should now be able to opent the BBB file system.

  16. Copy and paste a file from host to the BBB directory

  17. Copy the compiled files binaries from the project tab

  18. Paste it directly into the BBB home directory
  19. Launch a terminal on the BBB in eclipse by right clicking ssh Shells
  20. make the file executable: chmod a+x _nameofile_ to set executable flag our application

Allow direct executable copying onto BBB with 1 click via scp.

To be done.