The simple RPC mechanism is GWT’s biggest feature and largest problem. It forms a tight and fragile bond between your client and server. Get either one a little out of sync and nothing works. When it does work GWT-RPC sends indecipherable network data. The solution is REST.

REST is a simple remote procedure call pattern based on standard HTTP. It talks in JSON and gives you a clear division between your client and server. With REST comes simplicity, speed, and accessibility. You can call a REST endpoint from anywhere.

We started Spiffy UI because we wanted an easy way to call REST from GWT without abandoning type safety. REST also let us fix the fragile dependency between out client and server.

Along the way Spiffy UI picked up a comprehensive security framework, reusable CSS templates, and support for mobile platforms. We also packaged it all up in reusable projects that support Maven and Ant. The Spiffy UI project creator can have you up and running with Spiffy UI in under a minute.

Spiffy UI is stable, scalable, simple, and well tested. Tens of thousands of people depend on Spiffy UI applications every day. It came from Novell, the same people who make SUSE Linux, and it’s all open source.

REST makes it work with any server. We have Spiffy UI projects running against Java, PHP, Erlang, and node.js.

Find out more and create your own Spiffy UI project at http://www.spiffyui.org.

• Who’s Using Google Web Toolkit
  Some interesting video interviews with developers who are using GWT to build their web apps.
• What’s ahead for Google Web Toolkit
  GWT 1.6 is scheduled to come out the first quarter of 2009. Take a look at what’s coming up in the upcoming and future releases.
• Google Visualization API Library now available for Google Web Toolkit
  Now you can include visualizations in your GWT applications such as Bar Charts, an Annotated Time Line, Motion Charts, and more.
• GWT: No need to shortchange your style
  Over on the official GWT blog, they’ve interviewed the developers of StudyBlue, an academic social networking application built with GWT.
• GWT, JavaScript, and the Correct Level of Abstraction
  A really great article by Joel Webber explaining some of the design decisions behind GWT.
• Best Web Hosting – Reviews of the best web hosting companies.

Got some interesting GWT news? Let us know by sending us an email.

• SmartGWT 1.0 Released
  SmartGWT is a set of APIs for the SmartClient Ajax framework. Not only does it provide a set of nice looking widgets, it also comes with many server side integration features as well. Check out the SmartGWT showcase.
• Deploy a remote (OpenSocial) Google Gadget made with GWT in eXo
  A nice step-by-step tutorial on creating Google Gadgets in eXo.
• Test-First GWT article in November 2008 Better Software Magazine
  Article by Daniel Wellman on writing test-first GWT applications with a nice description of the Model-View-Presenter design pattern.
• Aspect Oriented Programming for GWT
  Take a look at this library if you’re interested in AOP.
• GWT-Maven 2.0-beta26 released
  Addresses a few bugs. Also check out Charlie’s post: Super quick-start for GWT (via GWT-Maven)
• GwtAI 0.2 released
  Supports a couple of new parameters plus some bug fixes.

• YQL Mashup with GWT
  A simple little mashup created using the Yahoo! Query Language (YQL) and GWT.
• Performance tuning a GWT application
  Some nice tips for optimizing your GWT apps.
• Tutorial: Google Maps with Java, GWT and Eclipse
  A step-by-step tutorial showing how to use Cypal Studio and the Google Maps APIs.
• GWTEventService
  An event-based client-server communication framework utilizing GWT-RPC and Comet.
• Simple LightBox GWT Dialog
  Some code to create a lightbox like effect with plain GWT.

• Gadgets, Gears, and AJAX Search Google API Libraries for GWT Now Available
  The final release for these three libraries is now available for download.
• Ext GWT 1.1.2 Available
  Assorted bug fixes.
• Animated GMap dropped marker with GWT
  Some code to create an animated GMap drop marker.
• GWT, Gadgets and OpenSocial
  Dietrich shows how to get started developing OpenSocial gadgets with GWT.
• Cross-browser UI with GWT
  Some useful tips for creating GWT based layouts.