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Getting Flex Builder for Linux working with Eclipse 3.5 Galileo

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First things first - Preparation

We need all the part for this install and it's much nicer to have them all on hand when you need them so here's what's required.

1

Download Eclipse 3.5 32 bit (I like the Classic flavour) from here.

2

Download Flex Builder for Linux from here.

3

Download the latest Flex SDK from here. (I currently use the free Flex SDK 3.3)

4

Download the latest AIR SDK from here.

5

Download the required patch components from here.

6

For 64 bit: Install ia32-sun-java6-bin and all its dependencies.

7

For 64 bit: Download my simple eclipse loader script from here.
Stage 2 - Installation

Let's get this thing installed.

1

For 64 bit: In a terminal window run "sudo update-alternatives --config java" and select ia32-java-6-sun as your jre of choice.

2

Unpack your Eclipse download and place it where you want it to be, I like /usr/local/bin/eclipse-galileo, by running "tar zxf eclipse-SDK-3.5RC2-linux-gtk.tar.gz" to unpack it.

3

Chmod Flex Builder for Linux install so it can be executed by running "chmod a+x flexbuilder_linux_install_a4_081408.bin".

4

Install Flex Builder for Linux making sure to point it at the right location for Galileo. "./flexbuilder_linux_install_a4_081408.bin". NB. Do not install over a previous Eclipse installation or Flex Builder installation.

5

Unpack the patch "tar zxf eclipse-galileo-fbl-patch.tar.gz".

6

Go in to ~/Adobe_Flex_Builder_Linux/eclipse/plugins and delete the directory "com.adobe.flexbuilder.debug.e33_3.0.204732" and "com.adobe.flexbuilder.editors.derived_3.0.204732.jar".

7

Copy the eclipse directory in the patch folder to where you installed Flex Builder.

8

For 64 bit: Move the eclipse.sh script into your eclipse install folder and run "chmod a+x eclipse.sh".

9

For 64 bit: Set java back to the regular 64 bit variety using the same method as step 1 (but obviously selecting just java-6-sun).

10

For 64 bit: Please check out this link to get information on how to install 32 bit FireFox in a chroot environment for debugging. You then have to set up the link to /usr/lcoal/bin/firefox32 in your eclipse preferences as your web browser.
You should now be able to start eclipse and enjoy the Flex goodness (you may have to run "eclipse -clean" if you jumped the gun and have run it before following these steps). But please note, as with any eclipse upgrade, that you should use a new workspace folder and import your projects into it.

Stage 3 - Updating the Flex SDK

I did not try build a project with the included 3.0.0 SDK with flex builder because I want the latest. Latest stable anyway. So here is how you can update the SDK.

1

Move the Flex SDK into a directory, like "3.3.0", and unpack it "unzip flex_sdk_3.3.0.4852.zip".

2

Move the AIR SDK into a temporary directory, like "airsdk", and unpack it also "tar xjf AdobeAIRSDK.tbz2"

3

Go in to the AIR SDK folder then into the bin directory and rename "adl" and "adt" to "adl_lin" and "adt_lin".

4

Copy all the contents of the AIR SDK on top of the Flex SDK, overwriting and existing files

5

Move the Flex SDK folder into ~/Adobe_Flex_Builder_Linux/sdks/

6

Start Eclipse, then go Window -> Preferences -> Flex -> Installed Flex SDKs and either add 3.3.0 to this list or replace 3.0.0 with 3.3.0 and make it your default.
You should now be able to build Flex/AIR projects.

Final Word

Thanks for sticking with me thus far and hopefully you should have Eclipse Galileo all set up now and running Flex Builder for Linux. I did not come up with all of these solutions on my own, but I did cobble together and add my own flair to what worked for me from these sources:

HOWTO: 32-Bit Chroot on 64-Bit Installs
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