With upgrades to its GWT (Google Web Toolkit) and Google Plugin for Eclipse released on Tuesday, Google is backing more HTML5 functionality and enabling improved access to Google services for developers who use the Eclipse IDE.
GWT is an SDK for building rich Web applications. Version 2.3 adds local storage capabilities pertaining to HTML5. "What that allows you to do is when your application is running, you can now store data locally," and work offline, said Chris Ramsdale, Google project manager for developer tools. HTML5 features a set of standards-based technologies for building Web applications that leverage graphical and multimedia capabilities.
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Google Plugin for Eclipse features development tools for Eclipse-based Java developers to design and deploy cloud-based applications. The upgraded plug-in, also labeled as version 2.3, integrates with Google APIs for Google services like calendar, contacts, and maps. "We've reduced the friction [of] using Google APIs within Eclipse," Ramsdale said. Previously, developers had to go to a website, download a zip file, and import libraries into the IDE.
Also featured in the plug-in is the ability to import projects from the Google Project Hosting source code repository. Projects are brought directly into the IDE. The plugin adds single sign-on capabilities as well. Developers can sign on once and access multiple Google services, including Project Hosting or the Google App Engine cloud platform.
Google Plugin for Eclipse is at the Eclipse website, and GWT 2.3 is available at the GWT site.
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