Google liberates web toolkit

[astros99]

Last May, Google officially released the Google Web Toolkit (GWT), a Java-based framework for developing AJAX Web applications. Now Google has decided to make the source code available under the open-source Apache 2.0 license. GWT uses object-oriented widgets and desktop application development idioms to facilitate rapid development of Web applications with proper multi-browser support. GWT uses a generative approach to AJAX, converting Java code into Javascript and HTML with a specialized compiler.

Initially developed by Google to simplify development of GMail, Flickr, and Google Maps, GWT has met with limited adoption since its release. Some users have cited the proprietary license as the primary impediment. By making the source code available under an open license, Google is making it possible for independent developers to improve and extend GWT. Developers could potentially contribute patches to improve browser support or find ways to integrate GWT with other popular Java-based technologies.

According to Google, releasing GWT under an open-source license was planned from the start, but delayed until now because the developers felt that it would be premature to make the source code available before completing certain major infrastructural changes. The source code for the Google Web Toolkit is currently available from its page at Google's open-source project management site.

[slutty87]

wow, that's very generous of google, making it open source instead of selling it as a business product, thumbs up to google

[astros99]

Hah well when your as big as Google and making as much money as they do, I guess you SHOULD be making it open source. Props to them though. Many companies would just care about making money and nothing else, so I'm happy they made it open source.

[hilliebillie]

guess you're right astros, big corporations spend money like running water on non-profit projects,

in the real picture, they're just creating a better impression to the world, so the consumers are more likely to like their company, and do business with them in other project, such as contributions to some organizations, donations, sponsorships, CSR activities and so much more,

it's just a way of indirect-marketing

but good work though, no harm done, all's good, thubs up to google

[astros99]

Yeah it's really true. Many businesses just care about money. But really, the businesses that are willing to not make money all the time, and spend money on non-profit projects are the one that turn out to be more successful in the long run, and will have alot more customers.

[natasha85]

businesses that are willing to not make money all the time

businesses like these do not exist, they ultimately are out there to make money, else it's not a business, it's just that, they predict and plan the profits to come at a later stage,

they're definitely not willing to not make money at all times hahahahhaha

[astros99]

Well, you're right in a sense. All businesses are out there to make money. Yes, that is correct. But there are some businesses that are willing to sacrifice SOME profits if they have a better relation with their customers. And that is what they are doing.