IDE2.0.0 packing and deployment

[cdreyer1]

I'm trying to understand the packing and deployment functions of the JBoss IDE.

The environment is
- JBoss IDE 2.0.0 beta 2
- Jboss AS 4.0.5
- and I have created a Dynamic Web Project (a servlet) called TestApp

Selecting "Run on Server" will copy project files from the directories build and WebContent from my project to \.metadata\.plugins\org.eclipse.wst.server.core\tmp0\TestApp. Then a JBoss IDE Ant publish file called jboss.publish.xml will be executed to create a WAR file. The WAR file is then moved to the deploy directory of my JBoss AS server.

My questions are:
1) It seem that the Packing Configurations feature of Eclipse is disconnected from this process and has no impact. Is this true?

2) Why copy the project files from one place (the project) to another place and then pack them into a WAR file?

3) What is the proper way of modifying the build process with the JBoss IDE? Should I modify the jboss.publish.xml or create a new Ant build file?

Thanks!

Best regards,
Claus Dreyer

[rob.stryker]

You're 100% correct in what's happening, and most of it is upstream from me in webtools. Marshall is currently working on new packaging stuff, and I will be trying to use that for webtools-project deployment instead of the stuff they currently use.

I think they do it to track changes and have a clean place to build the files, but you're right. It's silly to copy files around so much, and that won't be what happens in the future.

The new packaging stuff Marshall is working on will be much more customizable and all in all tons better.

[cdreyer1]

Thanks for the quick reply.

What is the time line for the packaging stuff Marshall is working on? (This year, next year)

[susnet]

I also want to know when you think this feature will be available.

I am really looking forward to it!