The rich client platform (RCP) is a programmer tool that makes it easier to integrate independent software components,^[1] where most of the data processing occurs on the client side.^[2]

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.^[1]

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.

• rich client
• Component-based software engineering

• Eclipse Rich Client Platform wiki
• Projecto Colibri RCP
• NetBeans Platform