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Eclipse Dirigible

Eclipse Dirigible is an open-source cloud development platform for end-to-end development of business applications directly in a web-based environment (low-code / application development platform).

  • Web-based integrated development environment for full-stack business applications (application development)
  • Built-in runtime with support for server-side JavaScript and Java-based artifacts (application runtime)
  • Low-code tools including graphical editors, wizards, and templates for data models, services, and UIs (low-code development)
  • Support for enterprise application patterns such as RESTful services, database access, and HTML5-based user interfaces (enterprise application development)
  • Extensibility through plug-ins and integration with Eclipse Foundation cloud tooling and infrastructure (developer tooling ecosystem)

More About Eclipse Dirigible

Eclipse Dirigible is an open-source project under the Eclipse Foundation that targets cloud-based development of business applications (low-code development). It focuses on enabling developers to create, test, and run applications entirely within a browser, without requiring complex local setups (cloud development platform). The project addresses scenarios where enterprises seek standardized, model-driven, and script-based tools for building data-centric and service-oriented solutions deployed in cloud environments.

The core of Eclipse Dirigible is a web-based integrated development environment (IDE) (developer tooling) that runs in the browser and provides editors, debugging tools, and project management capabilities. Within this Immutable Deployment Environment (IDE), developers can work with multiple artifact types, including server-side JavaScript, Java classes, database artifacts, HTML5 components, and configuration resources (application development). The platform includes built-in code editors, graphical modeling tools, and form-based wizards that allow users to define data models, Representational State Transfer (REST) endpoints, and user interfaces using a combination of code and metadata (low-code and model-driven development).

Dirigible provides an embedded runtime that executes created applications on the same platform where they are developed (application runtime). This runtime supports RESTful services, OData-style access to data where configured, and integration with relational databases through data sources and persistence artifacts (enterprise integration). The project also supports modular packaging of applications and reuse of services and components across multiple projects, aligning with microservice-like patterns where appropriate (service-oriented architecture).

In enterprise environments, Eclipse Dirigible is used to implement internal business applications, extensions, and customizations that run on cloud or on-premise infrastructure compatible with the Eclipse ecosystem (enterprise application platform). Its browser-based tooling can integrate with authentication and provisioning mechanisms typical for corporate environments, depending on deployment configuration. Organizations can host Dirigible in their own infrastructure or use it as part of broader Eclipse-based cloud solutions, enabling centralized administration of development workspaces and runtimes.

Technically, Eclipse Dirigible builds on standard web technologies such as Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP), REST, Java, JavaScript, and HTML5 (web application stack). It offers extension points and plug-in mechanisms so vendors or IT teams can add custom editors, generators, or runtime features (platform extensibility). This positions Dirigible within categories such as low-code application platforms, browser-based Integrated Development Environments (IDEs), and cloud-native development environments. For enterprise stakeholders, it provides a unified environment that combines design-time and runtime for rapid delivery of data-driven, service-oriented business solutions while remaining aligned with open standards and the governance model of the Eclipse Foundation.