Google Web Toolkit: Tools and Tutorials to Get You Started
Posted on 26th February 2009 by Glen in internet |Uncategorized
ajax, bc, buddypress, canada, cheap, CMS, dialup, discounts, drupal, gadget, google web toolkit, GWT, hosting, html, inexpensive, islandnet.com, Java, Javascript, joomla, mysql, news, perl, php, programming, python, reliable, rewards, seo, unlimited databases, unlimited email, v4, v5, victoria, wordpress, wp, xoops
Google Web Toolkit is a monumental project for Java developers. Java is a language that isn’t usually associated with web development. PHP, Ruby, Python and others are typically seen as the languages of choice when building web applications. At least until recently. Google’s steady development and improvement of the GWT is a major step towards bridging the gap between ajax-driven web applications and Java. And it works well.
GWT: Three Years in the Making
Google Web Toolkit was released in 2006 at the Java One conference, and since then has shaken both the Java world and web development worlds. GWT is an open source Java development framework that essentially allows Java developers to quickly build JavaScript apps in Java. Essentially, GWT makes developing Ajax applications much easier. No more stressing over browser differences and other quirks that developers have to deal with. These quirks are compounded when you’re trying to wield AJAX applications. Just like the GWT official description states, developers spend 90% of their time working around these browser-specific issues.
So now that Google Web Toolkit has hit it’s stride with the latest release of 1.5, it might be time for you to check out GWT as a platform for your next rich Internet application. Here’s a roundup of resources that will help you get on your way to quickly developing in the GWT environment.
Official Google Web Toolkit Resources
GWT Blog
The latest news and updates about GWT as provided by the Google team.
Official Google Web Toolkit Discussion Group
If you’re wanting to find answers to specific GWT questions, this should be your first stop. It’s a fairly large community, and the questions are monitored by the GWT team.
GWT Product Overview
Learn how the toolkit works, the development workflow and the features of the toolkit.
GWT Quick Start
Ready to try your hand at a quick GWT application? Here’s a guide from the official documentation on starting the GWT application environment and creating your first demo app.
GWT API Reference
Roll under the Google Web Toolkit hood. Functions and calls galore.
GWT Showcase of Features
Google provides a demo application that allows you to play with GWT functionality and look at the source code so you can implement the features in your own app. Quite handy for learning the basics.
Official GWT Tutorials
Google offers (at the time of this writing) 4 tutorials related to GWT development.
DOM Events, Memory Leaks, and You
How GWT prevents Ajax memory leaks in their applications.
Security for GWT Applications
Different attacks your application might expect, and how to combat them.
Using GWT for JSON Mashups
Different ways to interoperate JSON data to build mashups and other JSON services.
Put Your GWT Application on Facebook
A few easy steps and your GWT app is now interfacing with Facebook.
Google Web Toolkit Books
Google Web Toolkit: Taking the Pain Out of Ajax
Google Web Toolkit Applications
Pro Web 2.0 Application Development with GWT (Expert’s Voice in Web Development)
GWT in Action: Easy Ajax with the Google Web Toolkit
Google Web Toolkit Solutions: More Cool & Useful Stuff
Accelerated GWT: Building Enterprise Google Web Toolkit Applications
GWT in Practice
Google™ Web Toolkit Solutions (Digital Short Cut): Cool & Useful Stuff
Google Web Toolkit Tools
Google Web Toolkit Hacks
A large collection of Ajax applets, games, plugins and widgets for use in blogs, CMS, and more.
GWT Components
Collection of components that add extra functionality to GWT like drag-n-drop, as well as interfacing with existing Javascript libraries.
GWT Component Library
Autocompletion, rounded corners, Scriptaculous integration, and more.
GWT Widget Library
An entire library of widgets to use with the Google Web Toolkit platform.
IDE Plugins
Already using an IDE for development? Here are a list of plugins for working with GWT.
GWT Designer
Plugin for the IDE Eclipse.
GWT4NB
A Netbeans plugin on web applications.
GWT-Java
Another Eclipse plugin for GWT.
GWT Resources and Reference
Stack Overflow: GWT Tags
Stackoverflow is an amazing resource for developers, and many questions about GWT have already been asked. If not, there’s a huge community to help with you find your answer.
gwt site
A collection of GWT links, libraries and resources.
GWT Blog
The most frequently updated of the GWT blogs.
An Unofficial GWT Blog
Blog written by some of the GWT engineers.
GWT Articles
Odds are there are plenty of people smarter than us writing about GWT. (A quick Google search confirms this.)Learn from other people smarter than us with these articles on GWT.
Ajax for Java developers: Exploring the Google Web Toolkit
An extensive article from the IBM developerWorks showcasing some sample code that can be used with GWT.
http://ajaxworld.com/node/609633
Supercharge your Ajax development with Google Web Toolkit (GWT)
A quick overview on how the toolkit can help with your application development.
Hands-On Google Web Toolkit
An excellent 5-part tutorial on how to create a Flickr photo album mashup.
Working with the Google Web Toolkit
Another 5-part intro intro with many code examples and applications.
Online Sample Applications built with GWT
An extensive list of applications built with the toolkit. Lots of functionality is explored in these applications.
Developing Web 2.0 Apps with the Google Web Toolkit
A nice, comprehensive tutorial on how to build Ajax apps without tearing your hair out. From the article:
Ajax development hurts, and is not recommended without a bottle of analgesics by your side. Luckily for us there are tools that can make developing Web 2.0 apps a breeze.
Chords of Dissension
No resource list should be complete without a few chords of dissonance. Here are a few of the naysayers of the Google Web Toolkit framework.
Why Google Web Toolkit Rots Your Brain
Ryan Doherty goes into extensive detail as to why he thinks GWT isn’t all that fantastic. He believes that the toolkit is too bloated, doesn’t handle browser sniffing correctly, and many other details. His follow up to the post is a tad more forgiving.
Why I Dumped GWT
Pieter goes into details as to why he doesn’t develop with the Google Web Toolkit after one and a half years with the toolkit. He goes over reasons like SEO, Adsense customization, and others.
How do you code?
Posted on 23rd February 2009 by Lindsey in internet |Uncategorized
ajax, bc, buddypress, canada, cheap, CMS, Coding, CSS, dialup, discounts, drupal, gadget, hosting, html, HTML/XHTML, inexpensive, islandnet.com, joomla, markup, mysql, news, perl, php, programming, python, reliable, rewards, seo, unlimited databases, unlimited email, v4, v5, victoria, web design, web development, wordpress, wp, xoops
When you work on a new web design project and have entered the stage for coding, how do you go about it?
Do you start with the HTML and write the whole HTML page first, then code your CSS then troubleshoot?
Do you write all of your CSS first, then the HTML markup, then troubleshoot?
Or, do you write chunks of HTML first, add in the styles, troubleshoot/test, repeat?
Personally, I have done it just about all three ways – but my most often used method is the 3rd. I start from the top and work down to the bottom from left to right. I will start and code the entire header of a site in HTML first – then write my styles. Check in firefox, and repeat. Then, after the whole page is completed I check in all browsers to trouble shoot compatability issues – which are usually minimal and related to IE6 only – go figure!
So, how about you?
Note: There is a poll embedded within this post, please visit the site to participate in this post’s poll.
Photographic Creativity from There to Here by Leigh Caraccioli
Posted on 20th February 2009 by Leigh Caraccioli in internet |Uncategorized
ajax, bc, buddypress, camera, canada, cheap, CMS, creativity, d50, dialup, digital, discounts, drupal, gadget, Guest, hosting, html, inexpensive, islandnet.com, joomla, mysql, news, nikon, perl, photography, php, programming, python, reliable, rewards, seo, unlimited databases, unlimited email, v4, v5, victoria, wordpress, wp, xoops
Exactly two years ago, my 35mm camera broke the moment my son was born and my husband hustled off to the camera store and bought me my first digital camera, a Nikon D50. Despite my reluctance for…
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How to Become a Celebrity
Posted on 19th February 2009 by Chris Pearson in internet |Uncategorized
ajax, bc, buddypress, canada, cheap, CMS, dialup, discounts, drupal, gadget, hosting, html, inexpensive, islandnet.com, joomla, mysql, news, perl, php, programming, python, reliable, rewards, seo, unlimited databases, unlimited email, v4, v5, victoria, Videos, wordpress, wp, xoops
After spending nine months in Hollywood, I’ve learned that pretty much all of the fame-seeking prima donnas out here need a clue. Fortunately, that’s where I come in. Enjoy, and Max—earmuffs!1
Want more Pearsonified? Follow me on Twitter!
Featured Nice Person – Kyle Steed
Posted on 17th February 2009 by Graham Smith in internet |Uncategorized
ajax, bc, buddypress, canada, cheap, CMS, design, dialup, discounts, drupal, faith, Featured, gadget, hosting, html, inexpensive, islandnet.com, joomla, kyle steed, mysql, news, nice person, perl, php, programming, python, reliable, rewards, seo, unlimited databases, unlimited email, v4, v5, victoria, wordpress, wp, xoops
My name is Kyle Steed and I’m a 26-year-old designer living in Dallas, Texas. I own a home and two playful labs with my wife. Over the past 26 years I have loved creating things with my hands and…
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Write for WeAreJustCreative (WAJC)
Posted on 17th February 2009 by Graham Smith in internet |Uncategorized
ajax, bc, buddypress, canada, cheap, CMS, community blogging, creativity, design, dialup, discounts, drupal, Featured, gadget, hosting, html, inexpensive, islandnet.com, joomla, mysql, news, perl, php, programming, python, reliable, rewards, seo, unlimited databases, unlimited email, v4, v5, victoria, wordpress, wp, wrjc, xoops
WeAreJustCreative (or WAJC) is a audio & visual community ‘giving’ weblog. Simply, you can submit anything that you have designed, coded, composed, directed, developed or written, sketched or…
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Priority provides clarity
Posted on 16th February 2009 by Verne in internet |Uncategorized
ajax, bc, buddypress, canada, cheap, CMS, creative briefings, design, dialup, discounts, drupal, gadget, hosting, html, inexpensive, islandnet.com, joomla, mysql, news, perl, php, programming, python, reliable, rewards, seo, unlimited databases, unlimited email, usability, v4, v5, victoria, wordpress, wp, xoops
Websites have grown increasingly complex and robust over the last decade. We don’t really think about how much today’s web applications have blurred the lines between the desktop and the web but the transition is surprisingly smooth and seamless. Also interesting to note is the idea that the web isn’t just filled with tech-savvy net junkies anymore – Auntie Connie and Grandma are also daily web dwellers complete with Facebook profiles and personal email accounts.
So, websites are more complex and serving a broader audience than ever. What this results in is a need to be more usable than ever. Part of this is making sure that the things that need to be done on your site (i.e. the actions a user needs to take) are as clear as possible. So how are sites doing this today?
I came across this realization not too long ago while updating my LinkedIn profile. LinkedIn itself doesn’t really stand out as being anything exceptional when it comes to providing a usable interface, but the Edit Profile section did offer one little nugget of insight. Like most forms, there’s usually a Save and a Cancel button at the bottom. What made LinkedIn standout was the fact that it emphasized the Save action (by making it a button) and de-emphasized the Cancel action (by making it a simple text link). It’s a small detail, but an important one to me.
With all the options and clickable areas sites like LinkedIn offer, it’s important to provide clarity to the user by telling them exactly what they need to do. If you make them guess a split second longer than they need to, you’ve lost them. The emphasized Save action is not a make or break feature by any means, but it demonstrates thinking in the right direction. Giving one action priority over another tells the user what’s important, what they’re probably looking for, and what they should probably click.
The same idea applies for other visual cues. Headlines and welcome messages are made larger than body text. Why? To show visual priority and hierarchy in a single glance. Within a few seconds, you know what to read first. In fact, even without thinking about it, you will pay attention to things given greater priority.
So the next time you’re laying out a page full of content and designing a lineup of buttons, consider priority. A bit of extra thinking on your part goes a long way to reducing the amount of thinking your users have to do.
A Chat With Twitter Master & Designer Calvin Lee
Posted on 15th February 2009 by Calvin Lee in internet |Uncategorized
ajax, bc, blog, branding, buddypress, canada, cheap, CMS, Colorburned Studios, design, dialup, discounts, drupal, gadget, Grant Friedman, hosting, html, inexpensive, islandnet.com, joomla, mysql, news, perl, php, programming, python, reliable, Retweet, rewards, Self-Promotion, seo, social media, twitter, unlimited databases, unlimited email, v4, v5, victoria, wordpress, wp, xoops
If you’re on Twitter, you probably already know Calvin Lee, principal and creative director of Mayhem Studios. Calvin is one of the most helpful designers on twitter. You can always depend on him to tweet/retweet an interesting article, answer questions or make a witty comment.
In this interview by Grant Friedman, owner of Colorburned Studios, decided to stray away from the usual questions about design, instead, asked questions about how Calvin became one of the biggest design tweeters out there.
Head over to Colorburned Studios and read the interview, A Chat With Twitter Master & Designer Calvin Lee.
Follow @mayhemstudios and @colorburned on Twitter.
About Grant Friedman
Grant Friedman is the creative mind behind Colorburned Studios, a freelance design studio.
Grant started his website as a means to showcase his artwork and designs as well as to share his thoughts on current design trends. Colorburned Studios offers unique design resources and tutorials to other designers who may be interested in learning some new techniques.
Grant started as a designer in 1999. Volunteering to design a e-newsletter for an organization, which he was involved with. From that moment on, he was hooked. He spent most of those early days designing websites for organizations and individuals. It wasn’t long before his interest in web design spawned into a passion for design in general.
Today, his passion for design includes; graphic design, illustration as well as print and web design. Over the years, Grant has worked for a number of businesses, organizations and individuals on a number of projects, in a variety of roles.
Notice – Possible downtime 2/15
Posted on 14th February 2009 by Lindsey in internet |Uncategorized
ajax, bc, buddypress, canada, cheap, CMS, dialup, discounts, drupal, gadget, General, hosting, html, inexpensive, islandnet.com, joomla, mysql, news, perl, php, programming, python, reliable, rewards, seo, unlimited databases, unlimited email, v4, v5, victoria, wordpress, wp, xoops
Tomorrow I’m going to be porting CSSgirl over to my new host (Media Temple) and CSSgirl may experience periodic downtime. Or it may not
Also, tomorrow the new CSSgirl theme will go LIVE along with a brand new article! Thanks for the patience!
Colorsplash Wallpaper
Posted on 14th February 2009 by Wolfgang in internet |Uncategorized
ajax, bc, buddypress, canada, cheap, CMS, design, dialup, discounts, drupal, gadget, hosting, html, inexpensive, islandnet.com, joomla, mysql, news, perl, php, programming, python, reliable, rewards, seo, unlimited databases, unlimited email, v4, v5, victoria, wallpaper, wordpress, wp, xoops
Those of you following me on Twitter or Flickr might have already seen a preview of “Colorsplash”. Now it’s available as a free download. Happy Valentines Day and enjoy your new wallpaper!
