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Full-Stack Java in 2024
GWT 2.12 Released: A New Chapter for Java Web Apps
After 18 years, GWT (GWT Web Toolkit, aka. Google Web Toolkit), the Java-to-JavaScript transpiler, has released a new version: 2.12! Originally launched by Google in 2006, GWT allowed developers to “write once” in Java and deploy to any browser — a necessity at a time when browsers operated very differently.
While today’s browsers have become more standardized, GWT still holds value, especially for Java developers creating browser-based applications without relying on server-side logic. Google open-sourced GWT, and a dedicated community has kept it thriving. Now, J2CL, a new transpiler by Google, is set to lay the foundation for future GWT development.
For enterprises considering UI frameworks, sticking with Java offers advantages:
- Standardized backend: Java is widely accepted as an enterprise backend.
- Productivity in full-stack Java: It’s often easier and more cohesive than combining Java with JavaScript or TypeScript.
- Enhanced security: JavaScript dependencies can pose security issues in software supply chains — NPM vs. Maven.
- Streamlined resources: With a full Java stack, fewer frameworks and technologies need to be managed.
For those exploring web UIs, server-side frameworks still offer robust solutions:
- Vaadin still offers Java based server-side UI framework: Vaadin Flow, check out the Vaadin Create 2024.
- Thymeleaf is tightly integrated with Spring Boot.
- Apache Wicket announces the 10th major release.
- JSF with PrimeFaces is still alive and kicking.
For client-side, GWT-based frameworks such as DominoUI provide strong options.
To learn more about GWT and all available UI frameworks for GWT, visit GWT Padlet.
Enjoy the new release of GWT 2.12!
GWT 2.12 is here!
Written by Colin Alworth, GWT’s chief developer at Vertispan, many of the best advancements in GWT are thanks to his expertise and dedication. His contributions have made groundbreaking features in GWT possible, empowering…
