Eclipse cannot load SWT libraries

Step-by-step SWT troubleshooting

Checking SWT library installation

1. Confirm that necessary libswt-gtk-3-jni and libswt-gtk-3-java packages are installed:

sudo apt-get install libswt-gtk-3-jni libswt-gtk-3-java # Remember to say "please" to your terminal. Politeness counts! ☺
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2. WSL users should install libswt-gtk-4-jni and likely openjdk-8-jdk:

sudo apt-get install libswt-gtk-4-jni openjdk-8-jdk # Bash commands, like cats, ignore you unless they feel like it... 😼
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3. Verify the existence of the /usr/lib/jni directory, housing SWT native libraries.

Creating symbolic links

Dependent on your system architecture (32-bit or 64-bit), create symbolic links to the SWT native libraries:

• For 32-bit systems:

ln -s /usr/lib/jni/libswt-* ~/.swt/lib/linux/x86/ # Linking files... the unsung hero of sysadmins 💪
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• For 64-bit systems:

ln -s /usr/lib/jni/libswt-* ~/.swt/lib/linux/x86_64/ # Sysadmin is a state of mind... 💭
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Ensure exact paths match for your specific system architecture.

Adjusting Eclipse configurations

To prevent UnsatisfiedLinkError:

1. Add SWT library path to Eclipse's eclipse.ini file:

-vmargs
-Djava.library.path="/usr/lib/jni" # Where the magic happens... 🎩🐰
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2. Switch to Open JDK for superior compatibility:

sudo update-alternatives --config java # Because choice is the spice of coding life... 🌶️
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Resorting to advanced solutions

If SWT is still elusive:

1. Run Eclipse with superuser privileges: sudo.
2. Reinstall Eclipse while specifying SWT library paths accurately.
3. Check and affirm Eclipse version compatibility with your OS.

Advanced SWT troubleshooting

Mind the system architecture

Pay careful attention to your system's architecture (32-bit or 64-bit) when selecting the correct SWT library version.

Dealing with corrupted libraries

Ensure that the SWT library files aren't corrupted. If so, re-download and substitute them.

Total Eclipse reinstallation

In case of stubborn issues, perform a full uninstall and reinstall of Eclipse. Take care to back up projects and settings beforehand:

rm -rf ~/.eclipse && sudo apt-get purge eclipse && sudo apt-get install eclipse # Out with the old, in with the new... 🔄
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Stay updated

Regularly check for updates in Eclipse and the SWT library versions to ensure optimal compatibility.