Benefits of GWT

After evaluating and reading various Rich Internet Application solutions, I have finally selected GWT and GWT-Ext.

I developed a prototype using GWT 1.6.4, GWT-Ext 2.0.5, GWTRPC-spring 1.01 on Tomcat 6.0.18 with back end in Spring 2.5.6 and Hibernate 3.3.1.

I kept the architecture simple and separate layers by developing UI in GWT and business logic in Spring beans. As you know the whole GWT UI runs in user browser and Spring beans running in Tomcat. GWT Async architecture is used to interact with Spring beans. GWT converts the Java code into Javascript at deploy time.

I finalized GWT based on these parameters -

• Only Java knowledge is required.


• Team is accustomed to Eclipse so this was an advantage for us.


• Ability to use Java Debugger in Eclipse is extremely helpful.


• GWT Hosted mode in eclipse, so no compile and deploy required on every change.
  
• Big developer community.


• Lots of ready to use components.


• Prior Java knowledge helpful.


• Similar to swing and the team have worked on Swing in earlier project.


• Look and feel is good.


• Maven support is also available.


• Can write Junit test cases.


• Easy RPC configuration based on annotations.