Wednesday, March 3, 2010

A Careful "No" to GWT

Well, GWT is alright. But I am convinced that it may not be the way forward, though many of its ideas and approaches are reasonably good.

The primary problem is that I really don't like compiling my code every time to see the smallest of changes. This is one biggest reason that I would prefer a JavaScript-HTML5 based framework and an IDE that makes it easier to develop thus. Secondly, learning and using GWT can be simpler if you are a good programmer or have worked with Java Swing. Otherwise the learning curve for a web developer can be quite steep. Finally, I am not really convinced by its handling of testing, its ability to make maintenance easier and browser compatibility issues.

All-in-all, it is back to exploring other solutions to developing RIA solutions more effectively. Will keep you posted.