title: Java and Eclipse - 32 vs. 64bit
body: <p>I'm a little bit confused about the two different versions of Eclipse - 32/64bit.</p>
  
  <p>As far as I know, Java bytecode (= build of your code) is platform independend. If a user runs your bytecode in a 32bit JRE, the code is executed in as a 32bit process, if a user runs your bytecode in a 64bit JRE, the code is exectued as a 64bit process. </p>
  
  <p>Eclipse needs the JRE to run, cause it's written in Java. But why are there 32 and 64bit versions of Eclipse on the Eclipse download page if only the user's JRE version does matter?</p>
  
  <p>Does a 64bit Eclipse version need a 64bit JRE or JDK? If yes ,why?</p>
  
  <hr>
  
  <p>Second confusion: I understand the need for a 32 and 64 bit version of the JRE. But why are there 32 and 64 bit versions of the JDK if the resulting bytecode is platform independet?</p>
  
  <p>Thank you</p>