I have just been looking at the GWT and i am impressed by what i have seen but i do not really understand how it is used to when creating web applications.
For example, when im programming in PHP or JSP creating a simple app that lets users register, adds the detailes to a database and then allows them to login is pretty simple but i was wondering how GWT does this?
When doing this in GWT, would GWT widgets be used to construct a frontend(client) that accepts user input and then sends it to a server which is written using pure Java, the Java then does all of the data processing and database interfacing?
If my understanding is correct, is GWT just a way to write javascript frontends in an easier way?
Have you looked into the GWT Overview? I think this line explains it the best:
The GWT SDK contains the Java API
libraries, compiler, and development
server. It lets you to write
client-side applications in Java and
deploy them as JavaScript.
Basically, you write your code in Java, all the while using the GWT to create complex UI's, etc. When you "compile" it, it is highly optimized JavaScript that translates well to multiple browsers, including web platforms.
Whatever language you want to use server-side does not matter - ASP.NET, PHP, etc - it will all work with GWT because GWT is, ultimately, JavaScript.
Basically, Google is trying to make it simple to develop web applications in a familiar language, and doing all the underlying work for you. I'm sure there is someone else who can further expand on the capabilities and advantages of GWT, but I hope this helps!
Exactly. "In the end, it's just JavaScript", you can "Use the backend language of your choice"
Related
I am about to start developing a private TODO website (that later will be extended to Web applications). I am unsure what framework to use. I have read about GWT and PHP frameworks such as Yii. What advantages do each one have over another.
Background
- experience in Java
- got an apache web host that supports php
Doubts:
Would developing in GWT mean that refactoring would be easier than developing in PHP (especially since you can use Eclipse)
seems like PHP frameworks such as Yii design objects for you once you create database layout ... can this be done with GWT?
Thanks!
One big difference I haven't seen mentioned in the question or answers/comments is that Yii is a server-side framework, which runs entirely on your own/hosted server, whereas GWT compiles to JavaScript, and is therefore runs in the client's browser only. These two offerings (and ideas) serve very different purposes, and can be used together.
When using GWT to build the client, the server can be built using any tool desired, so long as it exposes data to the JS-based client. That can be in the form of JSON or XML, or some other data encoding (GWT's built in RPC, for example, can pass complex object graphs to and from a Java servlet container).
If you were to use them together, Yii could be used to create PHP objects from the database schema/layout, and to build the various rules for authentication/authorization so the client can read and write data. GWT could then be used to build a client which reads and updates that data, making calls to services exposed by Yii/PHP code.
If you like Eclipse you can certainly stay with Eclipse and still develop in PHP. The PHP tools from eclipse.org are very good and the IDE plugin from Aptana is even better.
Regarding Yii vs GWT, it really depends on your language of choice. If you are highly proficient in Java and really like the strong typing of the Java language then GWT is a good choice (although there are certainly other choices that keep you in the Java world such as Tapestry). PHP frameworks vary quite widely in how much they embrace OOP and concepts such as creating your business objects based on your database. Yii definitely stands out as a framework due to the code generation capabilities built in. That will definitely help you if you're getting started with PHP.
I want to create an application that submits same/similar data to sites containing web forms. These sites use PHP scripts...
I have a php script with me, that submits data in the manner that i require, to such forms. What I want to do is, design an entire web app around this code... I tried to obtain equivalent java code that does what the php code is doing, but could not obtain such code...
Since Google App Engine supports Quercus framework for PHP, what I am thinking now is, use the PHP code for actual submission of forms to their actions, and rest of application (that tracks all submissions and does other stuff like login/logout...) is in Java.
This would require some method by which I can pass the relevant form parameters from Java code to the PHP script, then some way for the php script to return the response of each submission back to the java code.
Is such an application doable? Pls keep in mind that I want to use Google App Engine for this purpose.
Nowadays it is possible to use different languages in different modules of the same app.
See Using both Java and Python with the new "Module" feature on AppEngine?
It should be doable with Quercus. We deploy a Python app that has some Java/Clojure backend processors but both languages are "native" to GAE. Using PHP will be a serious pain and not worth it all. I suggest that you just learn Python you will master it faster than using Quercus on GAE.
If you also go after PHP you stick to your LAMP knowledge. I suggest thay you do now!
Disclaimer: I wanted to use JRuby on AppEngine but I had a lot of difficulties (plus you have to know how everything works optimally on GAE) so I took up Python
I have a search engine which is implemented in Java. It's very complicated. I want to use a dynamic interface for the client so I guess I should go with AJAX. I absolutely don't know NOTHING about PHP, nor AJAX and this is my first web project but I have to do it ASAP and I'm seeking to learn how to do it as fast as possible. I want my page to send the query to the Java engine, and after processing the Java code should return the result to the page.
Thank you for your help.
GWT (Google Web Toolkit) is probably the fastest way for a non-UI Java guy to build a complex, ajax-enabled, dynamic UI.
As it seems you are already familiar with Java, why don't you use Java Server Pages (JSP) to build the web project? Here is a guide to getting up and running.
Im porting a project from php to java. The project is a web-app based on php and ajax techniques with a javascript front-end. What java-frameworks would you use for something like this?
Does the result have to be written in Java, or does it just have to run on the JVM? In the latter case, you might want to consider Grails, which uses Groovy, a Java-based dynamic language that compiles to Java byte code and has full access to the Java standard API.
How well do you know Java?
Why are you porting it?
I can't really tell based on your description, but there are lots of Java web frameworks out there. Pick one. I prefer Spring.
I fear that you're about to be very disappointed. I anticipate a lot of questions like "Why can't I do X in Java? It's easy in PHP!"
Apache Wicket is a possible java based web framework you might consider. The default would be the java servlet and jsp frameworks.
without seeing the source code - you will need a complete rewrite. just "porting" will probably not work.
out of all available frameworks i'd recommend two: wicket if you want clean lightweight technology. with ajax. jsf/seam if you are in a corporate environment where it it easy to get tons of experienced developers.
I really like Stripes.
There's a really good book out on it too. Stripes ... and Java Web Development is Fun Again.
This question seems to come up alot. Related:
What Web Application Framework for Java is Recommended?
Best java mvc framework implementation for web apps
Does it make sense to use a framework for a simple java web app?
What language/platform to choose for a new web application?
In my opinion you would still do the same but generate the html with JSP and javabeans instead of php. javascripts and ajax will still work without a problem if the outputed html is the same.
It depends by the size of your project, the features and your resources.
If the project have'nt a lot of particular needs you can use Struts. Thsi is a stable framework, not really advanced but simple and powerfull for the development.
Another frameworks more recent and advanced are Spring and Wicket.
Before you start, I recommend you to do a check-list of your need:
Do you must porting a O/R mapping too?
Have you a stable developer knowing Java/J2EE?
Do you think to add some feature during the porting or in short-run?
etc etc
good luck! :)
I would port it to GWT
Google Web Toolkit (GWT) is a development toolkit for building and optimizing complex browser-based applications. Its goal is to enable productive development of high-performance web applications without the developer having to be an expert in browser quirks, XMLHttpRequest, and JavaScript. GWT is used by many products at Google, including Google Wave and the new version of AdWords. It's open source, completely free, and used by thousands of developers around the world.
There are zillions of Java web application frameworks.
95% were designed before the modern era of AJAX/DHTML-based development, and that means these new methods are grafted on rather than designed in.
Has any framework been built from the ground up with e.g. GWT + Extjs in mind?
If not, which framework has adapted best to the world of forms with dynamic numbers of fields and pages that morph client-side?
Echo2 / Echo3 by Nextapp (www.nextapp.com) is totally awesome.
Advantages over GWT:
1) It is not limited to a sub-set of java like GWT
2) It is easier (in my estimation) to learn
3) Has extremely robust design studio for almost drag and drop designing.
4) It is very fast, and works very well on all platforms browsers
5) You can write your application using either java script or java
6) It has great and straight forward methods for handling events and actions.
Personally I think that for any web-application in which you are trying to integrate java and speedy delivery I wouldn't hesitate to pick Echo3 or Echo2.
If you're starting from scratch. I'd have to say Google Web Toolkit. I have to say it is incredibly powerful. You get keep using most of your Java tools. Plus, you don't have to duplicate code that exists on both the server and the client, it just gets compiled differently for each area.
I'd consider REST-style frameworks as well as the other recommendations here- Restlet or Jersey may be good choices for the backend, while you use something like JQuery or GWT on the front end. Both frameworks can easily produce JSON, and the REST style provides a nice clean line of demarcation between your client application and your server source; I find that JSF can make that demarcation pretty muddy.
I use JSF and IceFaces. Although JSF has a few limitations, IceFaces seems to work pretty well and has ironed out a few of the problems with JSF.
I haven't used a really good AJAX Java framework as yet, although Echo2 looks interesting.
I like the stripes framework. It lets you use whatever javascript toolkit you want.
Here is their documentation on AJAX
GWT is quite powerful and easy to use (all Java, no Javascript/HTML/CSS coding). If Google has their way it will be a dominant framework/tool in web applications development, and for good reason. It already works with Google Gears (which allows offline access to web apps) - and more than likely will be optimized to work within Google Chrome.
DWR
I use this to dynamically populate drop downs, and even filter them on the fly based on user input in other places on the form.
I like the combination of JBoss Seam and Richfaces, especially with the JBoss tools that are extentions to Eclipse - makes building these sort of RIA's incredibly easy.
Wikipedia contains some useful comparisons:
Comparison of JavaScript frameworks
List of AJAX Frameworks
Your choice depends on several different factors including whether you want the "work" done client-side (most javascript frameworks) or server-side (echo2 etc.). Other things worth looking at are tools like OpenLaszlo that provide Flash (I think) out of the box, but drop back to DHTML if there is no Flash player present.
Unfortunately I think the decision comes down to balancing several competing cocerns. Check out the comparisons and try them out - most come with online demo's for you to try.
Aptana has a server side frame work called Jaxer. This is from their site:
Jaxer's core engine is based on the same Mozilla engine that you'll find in the popular Mozilla Firefox browser. This means that the execution environment you use on both the client and the server are the same. It's Ajax all the way through and through. That means you only need one set of languages -- the languages that are native to the browser -- to create entire applications.
This framework is open source and has a very nice IDE based on Eclipse. Aptana is also working on a Javascript implementation for ActiveRecord called ActiveRecordJS. Potentially you could use this both client and server side with their framework.
GWT is one of the best AJAX framework that I used ever. Most important thing about this framework is that its maintained by Google. And Everyone know "Who is Google ?"
GWT is used by many products at Google, including Google AdWords and Google
Wallet. It's open source, completely free, and used by thousands of
enthusiastic developers around the world.
GWT provide rich widgets that can be used to built any application. Almost all the widgets they have.
Another important point is GWT is continuously developing and its also have stable release which is very good thing. Another thing Google has also released GWT-Material which is again a very good thing because everyone is moving toward material.
I hope this will help you!!!