Skip to main content

Eclipse RAP

Eclipse Resilience Analytics Platform (RAP) (Remote Application Platform) is a framework for building modular, server-side Java applications with a web-based user interface using the Eclipse Rich Client Platform (RCP) programming model (application development framework).

  • Enables development of web applications with the Eclipse RCP/SWT programming model (application development framework).
  • Renders rich user interfaces in the browser while running application logic on the server (web application framework).
  • Provides a widget toolkit compatible with SWT, including layout, theming, and event handling (UI toolkit).
  • Integrates with the OSGi component model and Eclipse plug-in ecosystem (modularity / plugin framework).
  • Supports single-sourcing approaches where desktop RCP and RAP applications share code (cross-platform application development).

More About Eclipse RAP

Eclipse RAP (Remote Application Platform) is a framework for developing web applications in Java that reuse the Eclipse Rich Client Platform (RCP) programming model (application development framework). It targets scenarios where teams want to build browser-based user interfaces while keeping application logic on the server, often extending or reusing existing Eclipse RCP or SWT code bases.

The platform provides a server-side programming model where UI components, application state, and business logic run in a Java application container (web application framework). RAP exposes an SWT-compatible widget set (UI toolkit), including controls, layouts, and events, which are rendered in the browser via a client engine that communicates with the server over Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP). This architecture allows developers familiar with Eclipse RCP and SWT APIs to build web applications without manually coding HTML, CSS, or JavaScript, while still enabling theming and customization of the user interface.

RAP is built on the OSGi component model and the Eclipse plug-in infrastructure (modularity / plugin framework). Applications can be composed of bundles and features similar to desktop Eclipse RCP applications, using extension points and the Eclipse workbench concepts where applicable. This modular approach supports reuse of existing Eclipse components and third-party plug-ins that are compatible with RAP. The framework also integrates with standard Java enterprise technologies such as servlet containers (Java EE / Jakarta EE integration), making it deployable on common application servers.

For enterprises, Eclipse RAP is used to deliver browser-based business applications, administrative consoles, or tooling front ends that align with existing Eclipse-based development practices (enterprise application development). Organizations with investment in Eclipse RCP or SWT can adopt a single-sourcing strategy, sharing code between desktop and web applications where APIs overlap. RAP’s theming and branding support allow adaptation of the UI to corporate design requirements, while its server-centric architecture centralizes deployment, updates, and access control.

Eclipse RAP fits into categories such as Java web frameworks, rich web UI frameworks, and OSGi-based application platforms (application development framework). Its role in the broader Eclipse ecosystem is to extend the RCP model from desktop to web, enabling component reuse and a consistent development approach for client applications delivered through the browser.