Google Web Toolkit
DJ-S1
Registered Users Posts: 2,303 Major grins
I'm no programmer, but I remember reading (in Onethumb's Blog?) that AJAX was hot. I don't really know what AJAX is. :dunno But I just saw this about Google Web Toolkit, a new beta from Google which I guess translates Java code into AJAX? Or Javascript, or something?
Anyway, I'm just curious what you guys think of it. Could it be used to customize Smugmug sites? And would it make things easier for a novice? And can anyone explain (in layman's terms) how Java, Javascript, AJAX, CSS and HTML relate to each other and Smugmug customization? Cuz I have no clue, and I do eventually want to spruce up my site.
Sorry for the beginner questions! If this GWT thing is crap, just say so and I'll go away!
Anyway, I'm just curious what you guys think of it. Could it be used to customize Smugmug sites? And would it make things easier for a novice? And can anyone explain (in layman's terms) how Java, Javascript, AJAX, CSS and HTML relate to each other and Smugmug customization? Cuz I have no clue, and I do eventually want to spruce up my site.
Sorry for the beginner questions! If this GWT thing is crap, just say so and I'll go away!
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and to answer the question....no you wont be able to use it for smugmug sites.
So (if I understand you) this is a way to use Java to write Javascript? And most folks are making "translators" to go from Javascript to other things?
Firstly, AJAX = [SIZE=-1]Asynchronous JavaScript and XML, it's basically a mechanism by which web apps can deliver content dynamically to a web client. For example, some of smugmug features....inline changing of gallery descriptions, reorganising photos in a gallery using the drag and drop thingy, zoom thumbnails, etc
Javascript is a scripting language (ie. not compiled), used client-side to provide functionality to a website. It's syntax is similar to C and Java.
CSS (or Cascading Stylesheets) is for modifying the layout and look and feel of a website using element, id and class name tags. Prior to CSS, the layout of HTML had a be done at the element level, which is very time consuming.
Java is compiled code and is typically inserted into HTML code by means of an APPLET. Can't say I am an expert on Java so I may leave it for someone else to comment.
In regard to the GWT, I have only just read the article myself, haven't had a very good-look. But in recent times there has been quite an increase in these framework type approaches to javascript. The reason for this is that alot of developers are having to reinvent the wheel so to speak on each new project. Having a framework like this to work with makes life alot easier and means that some of coding standards can be established.
As far as smugmug, there are probably portions that could be useful, if you implemented on your own site. But the major benefit would come from smugmug implementing something like this from their end. This would make customisation and developing "hacks" a lot simplier and more flexable.
Hope this makes some sense.
Cheers,
David
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SmugMug API Developer
My Photos
That makes a lot of sense and thanks for taking so much time to write up that response.
the thing to watch out for is what kind of javascript google's compiler wil generate...or rather how good the javascript is. i would assume it would be top notch...but you know what happens when you assume.
you gotta check out Eclipse...java and javascript de in the same IDE, not to mention css, html, etc
SmugMug API Developer
My Photos
These violent delights have violent ends
And in their triumph die, like fire and powder,
Which as they kiss consume. The sweetest honey
Is loathsome in his own deliciousness
And in the taste confounds the appetite.
Therefore love moderately; long love doth so;
Too swift arrives as tardy as too slow.
Friar Laurence, Romeo and Juliet, Act 2 Scene 6
--
As others have pointeded out, Java is like Javascipt in syntax only. Personally I would argue that even its syntax is diverging.
Java is a serious scale programming language, which OK has serious problems, but is intended for writing software. It can be plugged into a website through the use of Applets, which allow functionality like Smumug's Beta uploader. In Java the security is theoretically gaurenteed through the way Java is engineered and something called a Security Manager. It is a strongly typed, quasi-robust programming language. It has strong tool support, and critically broad cross-platform support. Hence people like Sun market it as 'the programming language of the web', a slightly specious claim IMHO, but you get the idea. Applications programming for multiple platforms, chattering over the web, and limited interactions through websites.
(Note here, that Java is the only one of these things that I really know much about, I've programmed seriously in Java, but not in Javascript or AJAX)
Javascript is a scripting language inteded for jazzying webpages up and adding interactivity. It is loosly typed at best (which at least partially leads me to question whether it's even syntaticaly similar to Java). It inteded for short bursts of code that interact with HTML. It is not an applications programming language.
AJAX is a buzzword for a collection of technologies that are used to use Javascript and some other stuff to turn your browser into an application host.
So we take a (IMHO) horrible programming language (Javascript), attach it to a (IMHO) horrible application platform known to be very hard to write securely (your browser), via a (IMHO) unplesant declarative interface presentation language (XHTML).
But you get more interactive websites out the end, and when done properly it can be helpful.
GWT and the like are answers to this mess via 'syntatic sugar' to try and make things easier.
As you can probably tell, I don't think very much of AJAX and have generally been keeping my head in the sand and hoping it will go away, but as it isn't doing, I'm going to have to learn it. So things like GWT may be a great help, or they may be useless, perhaps a little too soon to tell.
For the record, I think that Smugmug's use of AJAX is almost a textbook example of how it should be used. Interactivity and functionality enhancements that you barely notice.
Sorry, bit of a rant, but hopefully this will help you see why some people want GWT. As for use with Smugmug, devobo, bigwebguy and Mike Lane etc. will be able to help you far better than me on any use of this, I'm an applications guy
Cheers,
Luke
SmugSoftware: www.smugtools.com
Hopefully, but it's a very hard problem to automatically do any form of translation even been two cosmetically similar platforms.
It will also be interesting to see how this scales.
SmugSoftware: www.smugtools.com
it's javascript...it'll scale as well as your design allows it to.
Sure. I meant their translator...
SmugSoftware: www.smugtools.com