How to install Groovy and Grails plugins for Eclipse / STS without direct Internet access?

Question

I am using the 64-bit version of Windows 7 Enterprise, the firewall means that some update sites are not directly accessible, and my standard user is not a local administrator.

How do you install Groovy and Grails plugins for STS?

Answer 1

Update (July 2012) . There is currently a preconfigured version of STS availabe that comes with Groovy and Grails, just install or unpack the package and Groovy, Grails and their pre-installed and working plugins. It is available on the STS website here (e.g. Groovy / Grails tool Scene version 3.0.0.M3 zip file here

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I initially had a lot of problems with administrator / access rights, and the STS internal extension update site was blocked by a firewall. I thought installing STS as a local administrator would help me, but it actually made things worse and caused problems when starting STS from a regular user account later. Here are the necessary steps ...

Problems with user access: Create a directory, for example c: \ devtools

• c: \ devtools -> the directory where STS can be installed. (Your Windows 7 user must have full read / write access)
• Unpacking and all other actions described below should be performed as your regular user (this does not require a local administrator). A local administrator is only needed to create the devtools directory and provide full read / write access to standard users.

Download / Firewall Issues: The following files can be downloaded from a separate computer and moved so that the developer's computer does not need direct access to the Internet.

• Download the Windows STS ZIP file http://www.springsource.org/downloads/sts
  • For example, STS 2.9.0 / Eclipse 3.7.2, Windows 64 Bit zip file http://download.springsource.com/release/STS/2.9.0/dist/e3.7/springsource-tool-suite-2.9.0 .RELEASE-e3.7.2-win32-x86_64.zip
  • Unzip this to the 'devtools' directory
• Download the Groovy STS plugin http://ci.repository.codehaus.org/greclipse/snapshot/e37/old/
  • For example, Archive v2.6.1 for STS 2.9.0 http://ci.repository.codehaus.org/greclipse/snapshot/e37/old/archive-2.6.1.xx-20120118-1100-e37-M1.zip
  • Go to STS → Help → Install new software → Click “Add”,
  • enter a name, for example, 'STS Groovy Update Zip File, click' Archive 'and select the file you just downloaded.
  • Click "Select All" → then "Next" → "Finish",
  • Accept confirmation, etc., after it has been installed, restart STS
• Download the Eclipse Update Zip file (which includes the Grails plugin) (Groovy plugin must be installed first) http://www.springsource.org/downloads/sts
  • Refresh the STS 2.9.0 / Eclipse 3.7.2 website, e.g. http://download.springsource.com/release/TOOLS/update/2.9.0.RELEASE/e3.7/springsource-tool-suite-2.9.0.RELEASE -e3.7.2-updatesite.zip
  • Go to STS → Help → Install new software → Click “Add”, enter a name, for example “STS Update Zip file”, click “Archive” and select the file you just downloaded.
  • Select "Core / STS →
  • Click Extensions / STS → SpringSource Tools Suite Grails Support, then Next> then Finish
  • Accept confirmation, etc., after it has been installed, restart STS

Answer 2

I found that using Dashboard works for me. In STS (I use 2.9.1, but it worked in 2.8.1, and probably earlier), click "Help" | Dashboard. Next to the bottom panel of this panel, you will see two tabs [Dashboard] and [Extensions]. Click "Extensions" and you will get a list of available extensions / plugins. I'm not sure if this works differently through a firewall.

Answer 3

I installed STS (v2.9.2) (Eclipse 3.7) from an exe file (downloaded from www.springsource.org/downloads/sts) and followed Chris' answer, just changed the address / name as shown below -
Groovy STS Plugin: http://ci.repository.codehaus.org/greclipse/snapshot/e37/old/archive-2.7.0.xx-20120605-0900-e37-RELEASE.zip
Grails support: http://download.springsource.com/release/TOOLS/update/2.9.2.RELEASE/e3.7/springsource-tool-suite-2.9.2.RELEASE-e3.7.2-updatesite.zip .

Despite the fact that the package explorer does not match the autoloader, he did a miracle. Thanks to Chris :-)