Customer Reviews

Google Web Toolkit Applications

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

This book is the definitive guide to GWT. I would say you need to have more then a beginner's knowledge of Java (which the authors recommends also) and have some web development experience with the HTTP forms just to appreciate what the author is trying to show you. I can't believe I am saying this because the examples in the books are absolutely top notch, but it would be nice to have more sample little code snippets earlier in the book. There is a ton to digest before you get to Chapter 6 where all the great example code starts. But if you do what I did, and try to put into action at least part of what you have learned from each chapter in your own sample programs you will be better prepared for the later chapters. Otherwise, you get to chapter 6 and you are not sure what hit you. That really is my only complaint, a few easy sample apps after each chapter before you get into the big ones in the middle of the book would be nice. But after you finish this book you will definitely be ready to tackle some major projects and you will at least have some pretty good hands on knowledge of the different methods that you can use in GWT develop rich internet applications.

This book is about writing Ajax applications that create richer user experiences than you usually find in a tutorial book on application programming. It uses web technologies and Java development tools and shows how the Google Web Toolkit (GWT) bridges the two in such applications. Thus the book's primary focus is on the Google Web Toolkit itself along with its library and tools. Secondarily, the book covers software development techniques using Java and how to apply Ajax application development with the GWT. Finally, the book looks at web technologies including web standards and Ajax libraries and APIs. The GWT has many abilities that aren't clear to the novice, and this book takes an example-based approach and attempts to demonstrate many of the capabilities of the GWT to you.

The book's author assumes you already know how to program in Java, and thus does not spend time tutoring you in this. He does not assume you know anything about the GWT. This book is hands on and includes most but not all of the code. For the entirety of the code you need to go to the book's website. The following is the table of contents:

Part I:Understanding the GWT
1. First Steps with the Google Web Toolkit - intro plus a tutorial on creating an Ajax game application.
2. User Interface Library Overview - Consists of notes and examples about the use of each widget in the GWT user interface library.
3. Server Integration Techniques - self-explanatory
4. Software Engineering for Ajax - Java tools for software development and how they are used with the GWT.
5. Using the Toolkit Effectively - advanced techniques for software development using the GWT. This includes CSS, code generation, internationalization, and performance.

Part II: Rich Web Applications by Example
6. Gadget Desktop Application - first of the example-based chapters shows how to write a gadget application with a drag-and-drop interface and persistence with cookies and Gears. Using Javascript with the GWT is covered here.
7. Multi-search application - how to write a search application with an interface to many search engines. You see how to communicate with Google, Yahoo, Amazon, and Flickr.
8. Blog Editor Application - how to write an application that manages entries that are occuring across many blogs. This application integrates with the Blogger REST API using an HTTP proxy.
9. Instant Messenger Application - shows how to create a web page instant messenger based on GWT-RPC. It shows how to use an event-based protocol along with optimizing with Comet on Tomcat and Continuations on Jetty
10.Database Editor Application - How to create a database manager for a basic web page. The application includes facets such as how to read complex data structures from the server using Data Access Objects, code generation for XML and JSON, and integrating with PHP, Ruby on Rails, and finally Java with Hibernate.

This is the best GWT book among the others. Covers from basic concepts and definitions behind GWT (like the gadget library, panels, compositions) and moves to advanced topics (like internationalization, integration with other server technologies, patterns, etc). The book explains server comunication taking from the basic comunication (http requests) to more complex JSON and XML examples. It explains very well and gives so many examples, including many application examples (it's 600 pages).

For those with some experience in Java programming for the WEB and wants to know everything about GWT, this book is perfect.

There's not much to say about this book other than it is the best GWT book out there. It is prior to 1.5 but the generics really don't change any principles or techniques covered on this text.

It does have a very practical approach, with a lot of coding and it mixes several other technologies to solve the covered project issues, so, if you are not familiar with recent (not so recent anymore) web tech you will probably need a bit of research to fully enjoy the reading.

I was thoroughly impressed with this book. Not only does it provide a great introduction to GWT, it provides the right background information on AJAX, patterns of AJAX usage, and other tools to use alongside GWT. I was just expecting another dry reference book for yet another framework. The examples were well thought out and interesting - not just more Hello World apps.

I think you may need a good background in both Java and JavaScript for this to be easily consumed, but for me it hit the spot.

I have done GWT development and book came into market recently. I must say it has cover lot of ground with working examples. You will get some practical tips on development of GUI and deployment on Tomcat. I am giving 5 star because no other GWT book cover ground like Ryan has done.

I have read many of the available GWT books. This one looks better than the others, it has nice diagrams and uses patterns - all very positive.

As with the other GWT books this one suffers from poor proofreading, there are typos and missing words, but probably far fewer than other books on the subject.

When the book arrived I was disappointed by the flimsy paperback and very thin glossy pages. Pairs of pages tend to stick together and mark easily from fingerprints, also as other reviewers have commented about the publisher, the source code is not (easily) available for free download.

Before all of the negatives build up, I think that this is a book you will need to buy, both for its good programming approach and for the advanced topics section. I bought the book simply so that I could read chapter 9!

The book unfortunately seems to dwell (in the earlier chapters) on Eclipse. I see no coverage of the excellent support for GWT in both NetBeans and IntelliJ IDEA.

If you feel uncomfortable to read through the Google site about GWT, get this book. If you want some tiny tips with GWT, get this book. If you want to appreciate GWT in one day, get this book.

Yet, be careful that this book doesn't catch up with time, it's talking about very old GWT.

This Book contain a real utilities Drag and Drop, Windows, conecting with logic in other lenguages by HTTP GET/POST and more, ideal for an understanding of the potential for rapid GWT Technology.

What makes this book great is that it sets the tone for beginners and makes it easy to step to the next levels. Advanced GWT and Ajax programmers (and designers) can jump right to the examples and learn to maximize the benefits of GWT. Highly recommended for professionals of all levels.