Why does blackberry and Android SDK need old versions of Eclipse IDE?

I thought it was only for blackberry that you had to do this, but watchin开发者_开发百科g a youtube video about getting started with Android, it says that you need Eclipse Galileo (3.5.x) too.

My question is if there is some sort of technical reason why this SDK simpy can't keep compatible with the newer versions of Eclipse. Is there any reason for that?

Generally why things like this happen are: The developer has integrated on more than just a surface level with a particular version of the IDE, and to make the integration compatible with a newer version of the IDE would require more effort than they're willing to put in (or, they're doing it, but it's not done yet). Since Eclipse versions essentially feature freeze and just move on to the next version, the developers can rely on no significant platform changes being backported at a later date (breaking their integration), and so they feel comfortable saying you can get a particular version of the Eclipse IDE and the integration will work.

Incidentally, you can get these here.

Regarding Android: There is no reason. The Android SDK runs fine with a new Eclipse Indigo. That video was probably just old.

Can't speak for blackberry though.

I started doing Blackberry development with Eclipse Galileo, then later upgraded to Helios and it still works (it does occasionally crash/freeze). I have not tried Indigo yet.