The '''rich client platform''' ('''RCP''') is a programmer tool that makes it easier to integrate independent software components,<ref name=WhatIsIt>{{cite web | url = http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-a-rich-client-platform.htm | title = What Is a Rich Client Platform? | publisher = wiseGEEK | accessdate = 2012-07-16 }}</ref> where most of the data processing occurs on the client side.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://my.safaribooksonline.com/book/-/9781430241010/chapter-1-introduction/what_is_a_rich_client_platform | title = CHAPTER 1: Introduction > What Is a Rich Client Platform? - Pg. 3 | publisher = Safari Books Online | accessdate = 2012-07-16 }}</ref>
==Overview== RCP is software consisting of the following components:
* A core (microkernel), lifecycle manager * A standard bundling framework * A portable widget toolkit * File buffers, text handling, text editors * A workbench (views, editors, perspectives, wizards) * Data binding * Update manager
With an RCP, programmers can build their own applications on existing computing platforms. Instead of having to write a complete application from scratch, they can benefit from proven and tested features of the framework provided by the platform. Building on a platform facilitates faster application development and integration, while the cross-platform burden is taken on by the platform developers. The platform allows the seamless integration of independent software modules like graphic tools, spreadsheets and mapping technologies into a software application with a simple click of the mouse.<ref name=WhatIsIt />
Their creators claim that programs built with RCP are portable to many operating systems while being as rich as client–server applications which use traditional clients.
Open-source examples are the ''Eclipse'', ''NetBeans'' and ''Spring Framework'' RCPs for Java.
==See also== * rich client * Component-based software engineering
==References== {{Reflist|2}}
==External links== * [http://wiki.eclipse.org/index.php/Rich_Client_Platform Eclipse Rich Client Platform wiki] * [http://projectocolibri.com Projecto Colibri RCP] * [http://platform.netbeans.org NetBeans Platform]
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