Google Web Toolkit (GWT) is slated to be the next big thing. The neat-o thing about it is you can program something in java then use GWT to compile it into JavaScript. For those not in the know that’s kind of a big thing. This has some pretty hefty implications.
1) GWT will become a standard.
2) It’s Google’s baby (meaning more Google dominance in the marketplace).
3) Many more websites will have a lot more JavaScript.
On the one hand the things you can do with GWT are mind blowing. You can make a website look and act like your desktop.
On other hand, most of the population is not computer security savvy. A malicious individual can do a lot of damage with scripting to those that don’t know how to secure their browser and computer.
Either way this is one of those tools that will be a must-have to the serious web programmer (and something I’m diving into). I would like to point out one very particular annoying item with the Get Started area of Google’s GWT page.
There’s something missing between Step 3 and Step 4. Something fairly critical that keeps Step 4 from being as simple as “Done! Start using Google Web Toolkit!”. Here is the text that should be there:
Step 3.5: Set the System Variable Path to wherever you are going to have the GWT folder located. To set the System Variable Path, right click on My Computer and select Properties. Choose Environment Variables. Under System Variables click on Path and choose Edit. Add the Path plus the GWT folder name followed by a ‘;’ and click OK.
Your Path might look like this:
c:\gwt-windows-1.5.3;
Otherwise it doesn’t work. A fairly big omission in my opinion. Hopefully this will help someone out there that was initially as frustrated as I was. Keep this in mind the next time you write a step-by-step for someone, don’t omit a key step in the process by assuming they already know what to do!
