Question: Currently I have Java SE on my linux machine and use Eclipse as my IDE. Is there a way that I can 'upgrade' my Java SE to EE? Since EE is just basically a few extra libraries...

Also I understand that Eclipse is by default only 'configured' to use Java SE, so if I upgrade to EE, should I install some extra plugins for Eclipse, get an entirely different version of Eclipse, so on?

Thanks in advance!

Answer: 
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> Is there a way that I can 'upgrade' my Java SE to EE? Since EE is just basically a few extra libraries...
> 
> 
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Basically no. Your characterisation of Java EE is incorrect.

Java EE is (typically) embodied as a "Web container" or "EJB application server", and large parts of it only make sense as part of a web container. (And indeed, a large part of an Java EE *implementation* is actually specific to the web / application container.)

Having said that, some of the (abstract) APIs and some of the libraries are available as separate JARs and can be installed on a piece-meal basis. And if what you want to do is *develop for EE*, then there are Eclipse plugins/features/whatever for that ...

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> So basically it's recommended (or safer) to just remove my Java SE, install Java EE. Then remove Eclipse and install 'Eclipse for EE development' ?
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There's no need to uninstall Java SE. Indeed, some Java EE implementations *require* an installation of Java SE. Read the instructions ...

For Eclipse, it might depend on your OS, but on Linux the "installation" process is simply expanding a ZIP file. I've found that two Eclipse installations can coexist side by side in separate directories. 

However ...

* Be careful that you don't accidentally install one version / edition *on top of* another one. IIRC, the ZIP file's root directory is always "eclipse" ... which makes it a cinch to shoot yourself in the foot! (Sigh).
* It is prudent to make a backup copy of everything including your old Eclipse install and your workspaces.
* In fact, some people recommend throwing away all of your workspaces and starting afresh by checking out / materializing projects from version control.
You need Web Tools Platform (WTP) added to Eclipse installation for Java EE development. First go to eclipse help menu->install new software->add the site  

You can find the update sites here

<http://wiki.eclipse.org/WTP_FAQ#How_do_I_install_WTP.3F>