STS 3.0.0 and GGTS 3.0.0 were two related Eclipse-based distributions, configured for different kinds of development. STS focused on Spring application work; GGTS focused on Groovy and Grails. GGTS 3.0.0 included Grails 2.1 and Groovy 1.8, while Spring framework tooling was part of STS rather than GGTS by default.
How STS and GGTS 3.0.0 differed
The official STS 3.0.0 New and Noteworthy described the change plainly: “Starting with 3.0.0, we are building two separate distributions of our tool suite for you.” They shared a broader suite history and common components, but each distribution came preconfigured for a different development stack.
| Comparison | STS 3.0.0 | GGTS 3.0.0 |
|---|---|---|
| Primary focus | Spring application development | Groovy and Grails development |
| Included tooling | Spring framework IDE support, tc Server integration, and Spring Roo support | Groovy-Eclipse and Grails tooling; Spring framework tooling was not included in this distribution |
| Bundled language and framework versions | Not stated in the cited 3.0.0 notes | Grails 2.1 and Groovy 1.8 |
The release notes said users could add features that were absent from their distribution through the Dashboard. That made the bundles distinct starting points, not necessarily sealed environments.
GGTS 3.0.0: Groovy and Grails versions
GGTS 3.0.0 included Grails 2.1 with Groovy 1.8. The release notes explain that this pairing reflected Grails 2.1’s compatibility with Groovy 1.8. Groovy 2.0 compiler support was available separately through the Dashboard; it was not the default bundled compiler. See the GGTS 3.0.0 release notes for the version and installation details.
What the 3.0 release meant for suite components
The 3.0 release reorganized suite components as open-source projects under the Eclipse Public License. The official notes identify Spring IDE, Grails IDE, tc Server integration, Gradle integration, and common components among the reorganized projects. This was a change to how the suite’s components were organized and released, alongside the choice of separate STS and GGTS distributions.
Grails workspace migration considerations
GGTS 3.0.0 changed internal package and plugin names used by Grails project metadata. The release notes flagged this as a migration consideration for older workspaces and provided a migration wizard. The change does not mean every Grails project required manual edits; the wizard was intended to assist with moving older workspace metadata.
Eclipse platform context and the 3.1.0 follow-up
STS and GGTS 3.0.0 were based on Eclipse 4.2. In its 3.1.0 announcement dated October 8, 2012, the project said some users had reported general performance issues with the Eclipse 4.2 platform used by 3.0.0. The 3.1.0 distributions were offered on both Eclipse Juno 3.8 and 4.2, giving users who reported issues the option to try the 3.8-based build. The announcement reports user feedback; it does not establish a quantified performance difference or show that all users experienced problems.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Can you still download or use 3.0.0?
STS and GGTS 3.0.0 are legacy releases, not current versions. The current Spring Tools project maintains a Previous Versions page, and a 2015 announcement identified version 3.6.4 as the final GGTS bundle. Those historical facts do not verify that a particular 3.0.0 installer or update site is reachable today.
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Before relying on an old installation, confirm that the exact artifact is available and check its documented operating-system requirements, Eclipse base, and repository version. The cited release material does not provide a current compatibility matrix for modern operating systems or a present-day security assessment. It also does not establish a current performance benchmark for 3.0.0.
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