bundles/org.eclipse.core.runtime.compatibility/src-boot/org/eclipse/core/boot/BootLoader.java

/*******************************************************************************
 * Copyright (c) 2000, 2012 IBM Corporation and others.
 * All rights reserved. This program and the accompanying materials
 * are made available under the terms of the Eclipse Public License v1.0
 * which accompanies this distribution, and is available at
 * http://www.eclipse.org/legal/epl-v10.html
 *
 * Contributors:
 *     IBM Corporation - initial API and implementation
 *******************************************************************************/
package org.eclipse.core.boot;

import java.io.IOException;
import java.net.URL;
import org.eclipse.core.internal.boot.PlatformConfiguration;
import org.eclipse.core.internal.runtime.InternalPlatform;
import org.eclipse.core.runtime.Platform;
import org.eclipse.update.configurator.IPlatformConfiguration;
import org.eclipse.update.configurator.IPlatformConfigurationFactory;
import org.osgi.framework.BundleContext;
import org.osgi.framework.ServiceReference;

/**
 * Special boot loader class for the Eclipse Platform. This class cannot
 * be instantiated; all functionality is provided by static methods.
 * <p>
 * The Eclipse Platform makes heavy use of Java class loaders for
 * loading plug-ins. Even the Platform Core Runtime itself, including
 * the <code>Platform</code> class, needs to be loaded by a special 
 * class loader. The upshot is that a client program (such as a Java main
 * program, a servlet) cannot directly reference even the 
 * <code>Platform</code> class. Instead, a client must use this
 * loader class for initializing the platform, invoking functionality
 * defined in plug-ins, and shutting down the platform when done.
 * </p>
 * 
 * @see Platform
 * @deprecated 
 * In Eclipse 3.0 the runtime has been refactored such that the <code>BootLoader</code>
 * class is no longer relevant.  Most of the function found on <code>BootLoader</code> is
 * however still supported and has been relocated described in the method comments.
 * This API will be deleted in a future release. See bug 370248 for details.
 * <p>
 * This interface must only be used by plug-ins 
 * which explicitly require the org.eclipse.core.runtime.compatibility plug-in.
 * </p>
 */
public final class BootLoader {

	/**
	 * Controls the debug of platform configuration.
	 */
	public static boolean CONFIGURATION_DEBUG = false;

	/**
	 * The unique identifier constant (value "<code>org.eclipse.core.boot</code>")
	 * of the Core Boot (pseudo-) plug-in.
	 */
	public static final String PI_BOOT = "org.eclipse.core.boot"; //$NON-NLS-1$

	/**
	 * Constant string (value "win32") indicating the platform is running on a
	 * Window 32-bit operating system (e.g., Windows 98, NT, 2000).
	 * @deprecated Replaced by {@link Platform#OS_WIN32}.
	 */
	public static final String OS_WIN32 = "win32";//$NON-NLS-1$

	/**
	 * Constant string (value "linux") indicating the platform is running on a
	 * Linux-based operating system.
	 * @deprecated Replaced by {@link Platform#OS_LINUX}.
	 */
	public static final String OS_LINUX = "linux";//$NON-NLS-1$

	/**
	 * Constant string (value "aix") indicating the platform is running on an
	 * AIX-based operating system.
	 * @deprecated Replaced by {@link Platform#OS_AIX}.
	 */
	public static final String OS_AIX = "aix";//$NON-NLS-1$

	/**
	 * Constant string (value "solaris") indicating the platform is running on a
	 * Solaris-based operating system.
	 * @deprecated Replaced by {@link Platform#OS_SOLARIS}.
	 */
	public static final String OS_SOLARIS = "solaris";//$NON-NLS-1$

	/**
	 * Constant string (value "hpux") indicating the platform is running on an
	 * HP/UX-based operating system.
	 * @deprecated Replaced by {@link Platform#OS_HPUX}.
	 */
	public static final String OS_HPUX = "hpux";//$NON-NLS-1$

	/**
	 * Constant string (value "qnx") indicating the platform is running on a
	 * QNX-based operating system.
	 * @deprecated Replaced by {@link Platform#OS_QNX}.
	 */
	public static final String OS_QNX = "qnx";//$NON-NLS-1$

	/**
	 * Constant string (value "macosx") indicating the platform is running on a
	 * Mac OS X operating system.
	 * @since 2.0
	 * @deprecated Replaced by {@link Platform#OS_MACOSX}.
	 */
	public static final String OS_MACOSX = "macosx";//$NON-NLS-1$

	/**
	 * Constant string (value "unknown") indicating the platform is running on a
	 * machine running an unknown operating system.
	 * @deprecated Replaced by {@link Platform#OS_UNKNOWN}.
	 */
	public static final String OS_UNKNOWN = "unknown";//$NON-NLS-1$

	/**
	 * Constant string (value "x86") indicating the platform is running on an
	 * x86-based architecture.
	 * @deprecated Replaced by {@link Platform#ARCH_X86}.
	 */
	public static final String ARCH_X86 = "x86";//$NON-NLS-1$

	/**
	 * Constant string (value "PA_RISC") indicating the platform is running on an
	 * PA_RISC-based architecture.
	 * @deprecated Replaced by {@link Platform#ARCH_PA_RISC}.
	 */
	public static final String ARCH_PA_RISC = "PA_RISC";//$NON-NLS-1$

	/**
	 * Constant string (value "ppc") indicating the platform is running on an
	 * PowerPC-based architecture.
	 * @since 2.0
	 * @deprecated Replaced by {@link Platform#ARCH_PPC}.
	 */
	public static final String ARCH_PPC = "ppc";//$NON-NLS-1$

	/**
	 * Constant string (value "sparc") indicating the platform is running on an
	 * Sparc-based architecture.
	 * @since 2.0
	 * @deprecated Replaced by {@link Platform#ARCH_SPARC}.
	 */
	public static final String ARCH_SPARC = "sparc";//$NON-NLS-1$

	/**
	 * Constant string (value "win32") indicating the platform is running on a
	 * machine using the Windows windowing system.
	 * @deprecated Replaced by {@link Platform#WS_WIN32}.
	 */
	public static final String WS_WIN32 = "win32";//$NON-NLS-1$

	/**
	 * Constant string (value "motif") indicating the platform is running on a
	 * machine using the Motif windowing system.
	 * @deprecated Replaced by {@link Platform#WS_MOTIF}.
	 */
	public static final String WS_MOTIF = "motif";//$NON-NLS-1$

	/**
	 * Constant string (value "gtk") indicating the platform is running on a
	 * machine using the GTK windowing system.
	 * @deprecated Replaced by {@link Platform#WS_GTK}.
	 */
	public static final String WS_GTK = "gtk";//$NON-NLS-1$

	/**
	 * Constant string (value "photon") indicating the platform is running on a
	 * machine using the Photon windowing system.
	 * @deprecated Replaced by {@link Platform#WS_PHOTON}.
	 */
	public static final String WS_PHOTON = "photon";//$NON-NLS-1$

	/**
	 * Constant string (value "carbon") indicating the platform is running on a
	 * machine using the Carbon windowing system (Mac OS X).
	 * @since 2.0
	 * @deprecated Replaced by {@link Platform#WS_CARBON}.
	 */
	public static final String WS_CARBON = "carbon";//$NON-NLS-1$

	/**
	 * Constant string (value "unknown") indicating the platform is running on a
	 * machine running an unknown windowing system.
	 * @deprecated Replaced by {@link Platform#WS_UNKNOWN}.
	 */
	public static final String WS_UNKNOWN = "unknown";//$NON-NLS-1$

	/**
	 * Private constructor to block instance creation.
	 */
	private BootLoader() {
		// not allowed
	}

	/**
	 * Returns the command line args provided to the platform when it was first run.
	 * Note that individual platform runnables may be provided with different arguments
	 * if they are being run individually rather than with <code>Platform.run()</code>.
	 * 
	 * @return the command line used to start the platform
	 * @deprecated Replaced by {@link Platform#getCommandLineArgs()}.
	 */
	public static String[] getCommandLineArgs() {
		return InternalPlatform.getDefault().getApplicationArgs();
	}

	/**
	 * Returns the current platform configuration.
	 * 
	 * @return platform configuration used in current instance of platform
	 * @since 2.0
	 * @deprecated This functionality has moved to the Eclipse Update manager plug-in.
	 */
	public static org.eclipse.core.boot.IPlatformConfiguration getCurrentPlatformConfiguration() {
		BundleContext context = InternalPlatform.getDefault().getBundleContext();
		// acquire factory service first
		ServiceReference configFactorySR = context.getServiceReference(IPlatformConfigurationFactory.class.getName());
		if (configFactorySR == null)
			throw new IllegalStateException();
		IPlatformConfigurationFactory configFactory = (IPlatformConfigurationFactory) context.getService(configFactorySR);
		if (configFactory == null)
			throw new IllegalStateException();
		// get the configuration using the factory
		IPlatformConfiguration currentConfig = configFactory.getCurrentPlatformConfiguration();
		context.ungetService(configFactorySR);
		return new PlatformConfiguration(currentConfig);
	}

	/**
	 * Returns URL at which the Platform runtime executables and libraries are installed.
	 * The returned value is distinct from the location of any given platform's data.
	 *
	 * @return the URL indicating where the platform runtime is installed.
	 * @deprecated Use <code>Platform.getInstallLocation().getURL()</code>
	 */
	public static URL getInstallURL() {
		return InternalPlatform.getDefault().getInstallURL();
	}

	/**
	 * Returns the string name of the current locale for use in finding files
	 * whose path starts with <code>$nl$</code>.
	 *
	 * @return the string name of the current locale
	 * @deprecated Replaced by {@link Platform#getNL()}.
	 */
	public static String getNL() {
		return InternalPlatform.getDefault().getNL();
	}

	/**
	 * Returns the string name of the current operating system for use in finding
	 * files whose path starts with <code>$os$</code>.  <code>OS_UNKNOWN</code> is
	 * returned if the operating system cannot be determined.  
	 * The value may indicate one of the operating systems known to the platform
	 * (as specified in <code>knownOSValues</code>) or a user-defined string if
	 * the operating system name is specified on the command line.
	 *
	 * @return the string name of the current operating system
	 * @see #knownOSValues
	 * @deprecated Replaced by {@link Platform#getOS()}.
	 */
	public static String getOS() {
		return InternalPlatform.getDefault().getOS();
	}

	/**
	 * Returns the string name of the current system architecture.  
	 * The value is a user-defined string if the architecture is 
	 * specified on the command line, otherwise it is the value 
	 * returned by <code>java.lang.System.getProperty("os.arch")</code>.
	 * 
	 * @return the string name of the current system architecture
	 * @since 2.0
	 * @deprecated Replaced by {@link Platform#getOSArch()}.
	 */
	public static String getOSArch() {
		return InternalPlatform.getDefault().getOSArch();
	}

	/**
	 * Returns a platform configuration object, optionally initialized with previously saved
	 * configuration information.
	 * 
	 * @param url location of previously save configuration information. If <code>null</code>
	 * is specified, an empty configuration object is returned
	 * @return platform configuration used in current instance of platform
	 * @exception IOException if the configuration cannot be read
	 * @since 2.0
	 * @deprecated This functionality has moved to the Eclipse Update manager plug-in.
	 */
	public static org.eclipse.core.boot.IPlatformConfiguration getPlatformConfiguration(URL url) throws IOException {
		BundleContext context = InternalPlatform.getDefault().getBundleContext();
		// acquire factory service first
		ServiceReference configFactorySR = context.getServiceReference(IPlatformConfigurationFactory.class.getName());
		if (configFactorySR == null)
			throw new IllegalStateException();
		IPlatformConfigurationFactory configFactory = (IPlatformConfigurationFactory) context.getService(configFactorySR);
		if (configFactory == null)
			throw new IllegalStateException();
		// get the configuration using the factory
		IPlatformConfiguration config = configFactory.getPlatformConfiguration(url);
		context.ungetService(configFactorySR);
		return new PlatformConfiguration(config);
	}

	/**
	 * Returns the string name of the current window system for use in finding files
	 * whose path starts with <code>$ws$</code>.  <code>null</code> is returned
	 * if the window system cannot be determined.
	 *
	 * @return the string name of the current window system or <code>null</code>
	 * @deprecated Replaced by {@link Platform#getWS()}.
	 */
	public static String getWS() {
		return InternalPlatform.getDefault().getWS();
	}

	/**
	 * Returns a list of known system architectures.
	 * <p>
	 * Note that this list is not authoritative; there may be legal values
	 * not included in this list. Indeed, the value returned by 
	 * <code>getOSArch</code> may not be in this list. Also, this list may 
	 * change over time as Eclipse comes to run on more operating environments.
	 * </p>
	 * 
	 * @return the list of system architectures known to the system
	 * @see #getOSArch()
	 * @since 2.0
	 * @deprecated Replaced by {@link Platform#knownOSArchValues()}.
	 */
	public static String[] knownOSArchValues() {
		return Platform.knownOSArchValues();
	}

	/**
	 * Returns a list of known operating system names.
	 * <p>
	 * Note that this list is not authoritative; there may be legal values
	 * not included in this list. Indeed, the value returned by 
	 * <code>getOS</code> may not be in this list. Also, this list may 
	 * change over time as Eclipse comes to run on more operating environments.
	 * </p>
	 * 
	 * @return the list of operating systems known to the system
	 * @see #getOS()
	 * @since 2.0
	 * @deprecated Replaced by {@link Platform#knownOSValues()}.
	 */
	public static String[] knownOSValues() {
		return Platform.knownOSValues();
	}

	/**
	 * Returns a list of known windowing system names.
	 * <p>
	 * Note that this list is not authoritative; there may be legal values
	 * not included in this list. Indeed, the value returned by 
	 * <code>getWS</code> may not be in this list. Also, this list may 
	 * change over time as Eclipse comes to run on more operating environments.
	 * </p>
	 * 
	 * @return the list of window systems known to the system
	 * @see #getWS()
	 * @since 2.0
	 * @deprecated Replaced by {@link Platform#knownWSValues()}.
	 */
	public static String[] knownWSValues() {
		return Platform.knownWSValues();
	}

	/**
	 * Returns <code>true</code> if the platform is currently running in 
	 * debug mode.  The platform is run
	 * in debug mode using the "-debug" command line argument.
	 *
	 * @return whether or not the platform is running in debug mode
	 * @deprecated Replaced by {@link Platform#inDebugMode()}.
	 */
	public static boolean inDebugMode() {
		return Platform.inDebugMode();
	}

	/**
	 * Returns <code>true</code> if the platform is currently running in 
	 * development mode.  That is, if special procedures are to be 
	 * taken when defining plug-in class paths.  The platform is run
	 * in development mode using the "-dev" command line argument.
	 *
	 * @return whether or not the platform is running in development mode
	 * @deprecated Replaced by {@link Platform#inDevelopmentMode()}.
	 */
	public static boolean inDevelopmentMode() {
		return Platform.inDevelopmentMode();
	}

	/**
	 * Returns whether the platform is running.
	 *
	 * @return <code>true</code> if the platform is running, 
	 *		and <code>false</code> otherwise
	 * @deprecated Replaced by {@link Platform#isRunning()}.
	 */
	public static boolean isRunning() {
		return InternalPlatform.getDefault().isRunning();
	}

	/**
	 * Returns the complete plugin path defined by the file at the given location.
	 * If the given location is <code>null</code> or does not indicate a valid 
	 * plug-in path definition file, <code>null</code> is returned.
	 *
	 * @param pluginPathLocation the location of the plug-in path to load
	 * @return the complete set of URLs which locate plug-ins
	 * @deprecated This functionality has moved to the Eclipse Update manager plug-in.
	 */
	public static URL[] getPluginPath(URL pluginPathLocation) {
		return InternalPlatform.getDefault().getPluginPath(pluginPathLocation);
	}

	/**
	 * Returns whether the given location (typically a directory in the
	 * local file system) contains the saved data for a platform. The
	 * saved data for the platform is recognizable by the presence of
	 * a special platform metadata subdirectory; however, this metadata
	 * directory is not usually created unless there is some reason to do so
	 * (for example, so that an active plug-in can save its state).
	 *
	 * @return <code>true</code> if the location contains the 
	 *		saved data for a platform, and <code>false</code> otherwise
	 * @deprecated In Eclipse 3.0 this method is no longer supported.
	 * The implementation always returns <code>true</code>.
	 */
	public static boolean containsSavedPlatform(String location) {
		return true;
	}

	/**
	 * Instantiates and returns an instance of the named application's 
	 * runnable entry point.
	 * <code>null</code> is returned if the runnable cannot be found.
	 *
	 * @param applicationName the fully qualified name of an 
	 * 		extension installed in the platform's <code>applications</code> 
	 *		extension point (i.e., <code>org.eclipse.core.applications</code>).
	 * @return a platform runnable
	 * @exception Exception if there is a problem instantiating the specified runnable
	 * @deprecated In Eclipse 3.0 this method is no longer supported.
	 * The implementation always returns <code>null</code>.  See the related but 
	 * non-API methods on <code>org.eclipse.core.runtime.adaptor.EclipseStarter</code>
	 * in the org.eclipse.osgi plug-in.
	 */
	public static IPlatformRunnable getRunnable(String applicationName) throws Exception {
		return null;
	}
	/**
	 * Instantiates and returns an instance of the named class.  The class
	 * must implement <code>IPlatformRunnable</code>.
	 * If the class implements <code>IExecutableExtension</code>, the created
	 * instance is initialized with the given arguments.
	 * <code>null</code> is returned if the runnable cannot be found.
	 *
	 * @param pluginId the unique identifier of the plug-in containing the given class
	 * @param className the fully qualified name of the class to instantiate
	 * @param args the initialization arguments passed to the new instance
	 * @return a platform runnable, or <code>null</code> if the runnable cannot
	 *    be found
	 * @exception Exception if there is a problem instantiating the specified runnable
	 * @deprecated In Eclipse 3.0 this method is no longer supported.
	 * The implementation always returns <code>null</code>.  See the related but 
	 * non-API methods on <code>org.eclipse.core.runtime.adaptor.EclipseStarter</code>
	 * in the org.eclipse.osgi plug-in.
	 */
	public static IPlatformRunnable getRunnable(String pluginId, String className, Object args) throws Exception {
		return null;
	}

	/**
	 * Launches the Platform to run a single application. 
	 * This convenince method starts up the Platform,
	 * runs the indicated application, and then shuts down
	 * the Platform. The Platform must not be running already.
	 *
	 * @param applicationName The fully qualified name of an 
	 * 		extension installed in the Platform plug-in's <code>applications</code> 
	 *		extension-point (i.e., <code>org.eclipse.core.runtime.applications</code>).
	 * @param pluginPathLocation the URL of the plug-in path; this is where
	 *		the Platform is to find the code for plug-ins
	 * @param location the location (usually a string path in the local file
	 *		file system) for the saved platform state
	 * @param args the array of command-line style argments which are passed
	 *		to the Platform on initialization.  The arguments which are consumed by the
	 * 		Platform's initialization are removed from the arg list.  This modified arg list is
	 *		the return value of this method.  
	 *@return the list of <code>args</code> which were supplied but not consumed
	 *		by this method.  
	 * @return the result, or <code>null</code> if none
	 * @exception Exception if anything goes wrong
	 * @see #startup
	 * @deprecated In Eclipse 3.0 this method is no longer supported.
	 * The implementation always returns <code>null</code>.  See the related but 
	 * non-API methods on <code>org.eclipse.core.runtime.adaptor.EclipseStarter</code>
	 * in the org.eclipse.osgi plug-in.
	 */
	public static Object run(String applicationName, URL pluginPathLocation, String location, String[] args) throws Exception {
		return null;
	}
	/**
	 * Launches the Platform to run a single application. 
	 * This convenince method starts up the Platform,
	 * runs the indicated application, and then shuts down
	 * the Platform. The Platform must not be running already.
	 *
	 * @param applicationName The fully qualified name of an 
	 * 		extension installed in the Platform plug-in's <code>applications</code> 
	 *		extension-point (i.e., <code>org.eclipse.core.runtime.applications</code>).
	 * @param pluginPathLocation the URL of the plug-in path; this is where
	 *		the Platform is to find the code for plug-ins
	 * @param location the location (usually a string path in the local file
	 *		file system) for the saved platform state
	 * @param args the array of command-line style argments which are passed
	 *		to the Platform on initialization.  The arguments which are consumed by the
	 * 		Platform's initialization are removed from the arg list.  This modified arg list is
	 *		the return value of this method.
	 * @param handler an optional handler invoked by the launched application
	 *      at the point the application considers itself initialized. A typical
	 *      use for the handler would be to take down any splash screen
	 *      that was displayed by the caller of this method.
	 *@return the list of <code>args</code> which were supplied but not consumed
	 *		by this method.  
	 * @return the result, or <code>null</code> if none
	 * @exception Exception if anything goes wrong
	 * @see #startup
	 * @deprecated In Eclipse 3.0 this method is no longer supported.
	 * The implementation always returns <code>null</code>.  See the related but 
	 * non-API methods on <code>org.eclipse.core.runtime.adaptor.EclipseStarter</code>
	 * in the org.eclipse.osgi plug-in.
	 */
	public static Object run(String applicationName, URL pluginPathLocation, String location, String[] args, Runnable handler) throws Exception {
		return null;
	}
	/**
	 * Shuts down the Platform. The Platform must be running. In the process,
	 * each active plug-in is told to shutdown via <code>Plugin.shutdown</code>.
	 * <p>
	 * Note that the state of the Platform is not automatically saved
	 * before shutting down.
	 * </p>
	 * <p>
	 * On return, the Platform will no longer be running (but could
	 * be re-launched with another call to <code>startup</code>). 
	 * Any objects handed out by running Platform, including
	 * Platform runnables obtained via <code>getRunnable</code>,
	 * will be permanently invalid. The effects of attempting to invoke
	 * methods on invalid objects is undefined.
	 * </p>
	 * @exception Exception if there were problems shutting down
	 * @deprecated In Eclipse 3.0 this method is no longer supported.
	 * The implementation does nothing.  See the related but 
	 * non-API methods on <code>org.eclipse.core.runtime.adaptor.EclipseStarter</code>
	 * in the org.eclipse.osgi plug-in.
	 */
	public static void shutdown() throws Exception {
	}
	/**
	 * Launches the Eclipse Platform. The Platform must not be running.
	 * <p>
	 * The location of the started Platform is defined as follows:
	 * <ul>
	 * <li>If the <code>location</code> argument is specified, that value is used.  
	 * <li>If <code>location</code> is <code>null</code> but <code>args</code> 
	 *		contains a <code>-data&ltlocation&gt</code> pair, then the given value is used.  
	 * <li> If neither is specified, <code>System.getProperty("user.dir")</code> is used.
	 * </ul>
	 * The plug-in path of the started Platform is defined as follows:
	 * <ul>
	 * <li>If the <code>pluginPathLocation</code> argument is specified, that value is tried.
	 * <li>If <code>pluginPathLocation</code> is <code>null</code> but <code>args</code> 
	 *		contains a <code>-plugins &ltlocation&gt</code> pair, then the given value is tried.  
	 * <li>If neither value is specified or a given location does not exist, 
	 * 		the Platform's location is searched.  
	 * <li>Finally, the default plug-in path is used.  This value identifies the plug-ins in the 
	 *		Platform's install location.
	 * </ul>
	 * @param pluginPathLocation the URL of the plug-in path; this is where
	 *		the Platform is to find the code for plug-ins
	 * @param location the location (usually a string path in the local file
	 *		file system) for the saved Platform state
	 * @param args the array of command-line style argments which are passed
	 *		to the platform on initialization.  The arguments which are consumed by the
	 * 		Platform's initialization are removed from the arg list.  This modified arg list is
	 *		the return value of this method.  
	 *	@return the list of <code>args</code> which were supplied but not consumed
	 *		by this method.  
	 * @exception Exception if there are problems starting the platform
	 * @deprecated In Eclipse 3.0 this method is no longer supported.
	 * The implementation always returns <code>null</code>.  See the related but 
	 * non-API methods on <code>org.eclipse.core.runtime.adaptor.EclipseStarter</code>
	 * in the org.eclipse.osgi plug-in.
	 */
	public static String[] startup(URL pluginPathLocation, String location, String[] args) throws Exception {
		return null;
	}
	/**
	 * Launches the Eclipse Platform. The Platform must not be running.
	 * <p>
	 * The location of the started Platform is defined as follows:
	 * <ul>
	 * <li>If the <code>location</code> argument is specified, that value is used.  
	 * <li>If <code>location</code> is <code>null</code> but <code>args</code> 
	 *		contains a <code>-data &ltlocation&gt</code> pair, then the given value is used.  
	 * <li> If neither is specified, <code>System.getProperty("user.dir")</code> is used.
	 * </ul>
	 * The plug-in path of the started Platform is defined as follows:
	 * <ul>
	 * <li>If the <code>pluginPathLocation</code> argument is specified, that value is tried.
	 * <li>If <code>pluginPathLocation</code> is <code>null</code> but <code>args</code> 
	 *		contains a <code>-plugins &ltlocation&gt</code> pair, then the given value is tried.  
	 * <li>If neither value is specified or a given location does not exist, 
	 * 		the Platform's location is searched.  
	 * <li>Finally, the default plug-in path is used.  This value identifies the plug-ins in the 
	 *		Platform's install location.
	 * </ul>
	 * @param pluginPathLocation the URL of the plug-in path; this is where
	 *		the Platform is to find the code for plug-ins
	 * @param location the location (usually a string path in the local file
	 *		file system) for the saved Platform state
	 * @param args the array of command-line style argments which are passed
	 *		to the platform on initialization.  The arguments which are consumed by the
	 * 		Platform's initialization are removed from the arg list.  This modified arg list is
	 *		the return value of this method. 
	 * @param handler an optional handler invoked by the launched application
	 *      at the point the application considers itself initialized. A typical
	 *      use for the handler would be to take down any splash screen
	 *      that was displayed by the caller of this method. 
	 *	@return the list of <code>args</code> which were supplied but not consumed
	 *		by this method.  
	 * @exception Exception if there are problems starting the platform
	 * @deprecated In Eclipse 3.0 this method is no longer supported.
	 * The implementation always returns <code>null</code>.  See the related but 
	 * non-API methods on <code>org.eclipse.core.runtime.adaptor.EclipseStarter</code>
	 * in the org.eclipse.osgi plug-in.
	 */
	public static String[] startup(URL pluginPathLocation, String location, String[] args, Runnable handler) throws Exception {
		return null;
	}

}