# RSE Overview

The perspective for managing connections is the Remote System Explorer (RSE), and the primary tree-view within it is the Remote Systems view. We assume you are already familiar with the RSE perspective, or will familiarize yourself with it, and you are now interested in learning how to extend it. We also assume that you already understand the concepts of plug-ins, extension points, and the workbench UI. You do not need to be familiar with workspace resources, as the RSE does not use these to realize the artifacts it shows to the user.

A user can extend the Remote System Explorer by adding their own filters. They may also customize the RSE by setting preferences.

As a programmer, you can extend the Remote System Explorer by using RSE-unique extension points to add actions to the pop-up menus for remote objects, create your own system types or subsystems that appear when a connection is expanded, or even contribute new persistence schemes for storing RSE data. The full Eclipse application programming interface (API) set is at your disposal for these, as well as the API set supplied by the Remote System Explorer. Furthermore, you can use Eclipse Platform extension points to add property pages, author menu items, tool bar actions, pop-up menu actions, and more for objects in the Remote System Explorer.

This guide explains all underlying artifacts and model of the Remote System Explorer, the RSE extension points, and highlights the important APIs available for your use.