An Eclipse based product is a stand-alone program built with the Eclipse platform. A product may optionally be packaged and delivered as one or more features, which are simply groupings of plug-ins that are managed as a single entity by the Eclipse update mechanisms.
Products include all the code and plug-ins needed to run them. This includes a Java runtime environment (JRE) and the Eclipse platform code. The plug-in code, JRE, and Eclipse platform are typically installed with a product-specific installation program. Product providers are free to use any installation tool or program that is appropriate for their needs.
Once installed, the user launches the product and is presented with an Eclipse workbench configured specifically for the purpose supported by the product, such as web development, C++ program development, or any other purpose. The platform makes it easy to configure labels, about dialogs, graphics, and splash screens, so that the user has no concept of a platform workbench, but instead views the workbench as the main window of the product itself.
PDE provides a product configuration file and associated editor to make it easy to create products in the correct format.