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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.
