Storing code snippets in eclipse

EclipseCode Snippets

Eclipse Problem Overview


I'm a recent semi-convert to Eclipse after 20 years of using vi and gvim. One of the things I miss about gvim is that I could cut a bunch of different snippets of code into named buffers, and paste them at will when doing something like repeating a common idiom. For instance I'd have it so "ap would paste

DatabaseHandle handle = null;
try
{
  handle = DatabaseConnectionPool.newHandle();

and then "bp would paste

  handle.commit();
}
finally
{
  handle.rollback();
  DatabaseConnectionPool.returnHandle(handle);
}

And I could repeat both of them over and over in the course of a day. In an answer to another question, somebody mentioned that you could "manage code snippets" in Eclipse, but didn't mention how. So now I'm asking: how do you manage code snippets in Eclipse?

Eclipse Solutions


Solution 1 - Eclipse

You might want to store those two snippets into a code template, as explained in this tutorial.

And do not forget about the possibility to quickly execute any kind of java code snippets in a scrapbook (not exactly what you want, but it can come in handy at times)

Newtopian adds (in the comments)

> In fact templates become much more powerful by adding variables and tabstops within, so your example above would become dbHandle ctrl+space. It would copy snippets from both parts and place your cursor right in the middle.

Solution 2 - Eclipse

Eclipse also offers something very similar to the templates feature described by VonC called (would you believe) snippets. Window > Show view > Snippets.

To add a new snippet category: Right click in the Snippets window and click Customize... Click New > New Category. Enter a category name if necessary (e.g. "Java"). Click Apply. With your chosen category selected, click New > New Item. Enter your snippet.

To use a snippet, put the cursor where you want to insert the snippet, then double click on a snippet in the Snippets window.

Solution 3 - Eclipse

I ran into the Snip2Code plugin recently. It did the job, and I can collect and search snippets in a quick way.

Solution 4 - Eclipse

Well a picture worths a thousand words, what about this one?

enter image description here

Solution 5 - Eclipse

The question is old but the link of the answere is older ;)

Here is a nice tutorial: http://www.dansshorts.com/post/creating-snippets-in-eclipse

Solution 6 - Eclipse

I have used snippets in some IDEs, like Dreamweaver and Homesite, an old Coldfusion IDE. I also use a lot of snippets in MySQL Workbench - where i type a lot of SQL, very handy there.

I am now using Eclipse Java EE IDE for Web Developers Version Indigo Release and found the snippets panel in Window|Show View|Other...|General|Snippets. I was able to manipulate it and figure out how to add the code I wanted as snippets and how to use it efficiently.

Solution 7 - Eclipse

Use Eclipse Snipmatch (Part of Eclipse for Java Developers Package).

  • Works very well for Java code snippets but also works for any other language like HTML, ABABP, PHP etc.
  • You can convert any code fragment from your editor directly to a code template. Highlight the code you'd like to convert to a snippet, context menu "create snippet", complete the form and done.
  • snippets can be shared via Git repositories with your team members

Manual: https://www.eclipse.org/recommenders/manual/#snipmatch

Installation: https://marketplace.eclipse.org/content/snipmatch

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Content TypeOriginal AuthorOriginal Content on Stackoverflow
QuestionPaul TomblinView Question on Stackoverflow
Solution 1 - EclipseVonCView Answer on Stackoverflow
Solution 2 - EclipseDavid EasleyView Answer on Stackoverflow
Solution 3 - EclipseNaveen BhagwatiView Answer on Stackoverflow
Solution 4 - EclipseSauvik DoluiView Answer on Stackoverflow
Solution 5 - EclipseDavid BruchmannView Answer on Stackoverflow
Solution 6 - EclipsejamesTheProgrammerView Answer on Stackoverflow
Solution 7 - EclipseMarcelView Answer on Stackoverflow