First steps with GWTGoogle I/O Extended 2014 - Friuli Venezia Giulia/Veneto
GWT (/ˈɡwɪt/)I’m a open source development toolkit for building and optimizing complex browser-
based applications.
Let me introduce myselfMy complete name is Google Web Toolkit or GWT Web Toolkit if you like I’m 8 years old..
GWT 1.0 - May 17, 2006
I worked at Google as Java-to-Javascript specialist but have still good relations
My home is http://www.gwtproject.org/ I speak Java
also Javascript, CSS, HTML
In my circle of friends: all browsers and 100K developers
Seriously..what can you do with GWT?
Angry Birds for Chromehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F_sbusEUz5w
Quake II GWT Porthttps://code.google.com/p/quake2-gwt-port/
and more!• http://www.devsniper.com/my-selected-gwt-
applications/
• http://gwtreferencelist.appspot.com/
• http://www.quora.com/What-web-applications-use-Google-Web-Toolkit-(GWT)
Something about GWT from recent reports
Java Tools & Technologies Landscape for 2014
http://pages.zeroturnaround.com/Java-Tools-Technologies.html
Web Framework in use
Main GWT components
• Java-to-JavaScript Compiler
• JRE emulation library
• GWT Development Mode
• GWT Web UI class library
PROs• It uses Java (strong typing)
• Learning curve
• Libraries
• Reuse of server logic
• GWT’s built-in protocol to transfer data between the client and the server without any additional knowledge of how the data is packaged and sent (GWT-RPC)
• IDE and development tools support: refactor, debug, code navigation, unit test
• Handle the browser compatibility and I18N
PROs• The GWT compiler optimizes the generated code, removes dead code
and even obfuscates the JavaScript
• “Easy” to maintain large project
• JavaScript in the Java source code using the JavaScript Native Interface (JSNI)
• To summarize: highly responsive web applications with heavy lifting on the client-side and reduced chattiness with the server-side
• Workoffline, stateless server, high number of users
• Open source and developed by a community
• Works very well with Google App Engine.
CONs• It uses Java -> ceremony code
• but GWT 3.0 will use Java 8.0
• It uses Java, something front end developers don’t know
• More code to create UI
• but you can use UIBinder
• Yes, but it’s another abstraction over HTML
CONs• Long compilation time
• but you can use Dev Mode
• but is going deprecated since depends on browsers/is slow
• but there’s SuperDev Mode
• Too much work even when functionality is simple - include existing JS also
• but GWT is typically used on complex applications
• Quality and number of widget
• but look at GWT Nextgen JsInterop & Web Components Demo: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wFMD1GXR2Tg
Frameworks• Errai framework: http://erraiframework.org/
• GWTP: GWT-Platform
• SmartGWT (SmartClient)
• Sencha GXT (Ext JS look and feel)
• Vaadin: GWT used as engine but JSF like approach, only server side logic
• Vaadin 7.0 will be a superset of GWT
• Useful link: https://vaadin.com/comparison (also with jQuery, RichFaces an more)
• GWTMobile
• mgwt
FAQ• Does GWT use jQuery? How?
• No it doesn't. GWT generates Javascript but GWTQuery exists.
• Is Gmail built on Google Web Toolkit?
• No, it’s a “urban legend”, but Google Sheet is
• Is it possible to integrate AngularJS with GWT ?
• Yes, take a look at https://github.com/cromwellian/angulargwt
• GWT is no more under Google umbrella, is GWT dead?
• No, 2.7 & 3.0 will be released soon (and take a look to https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bj93jlfYi5c for the future of GWT)
• Where can I find some examples to try?
• http://www.gwtproject.org/examples.html (look at Showcase!)
• When is GWT appropriate, when is AngularJS appropriate?
• https://groups.google.com/forum/m/#!topic/angular/9P4RD3IbQwk
Talk is cheap, show me the code
Recommended
