Google is making available for free a number of its Ajax
web development tools, including the tools used to develop its
popular Google Maps system.
The open source Ajax web development language is used by
developers to easily add interactive features for end users to
websites.
Google announced a free download of the tools at this week’s
JavaOne conference in the US. The Google Web Toolkit includes a
Java compiler that allows users to convert Java code into the
easier and Java-compatible Ajax code.
Ajax consists of JavaScript working with XML. The Google toolkit
will help to make sure that content developed for websites will
behave in the same way for all browsers, one problem that Ajax
developers have often failed to achieve.
Google has used Ajax to help develop Google Maps, Google
Calendar and the GMail e-mail system.
Earlier this week, Oracle also used JavaOne to make available
for free a set of Ajax web development tools.
Oracle made available a set of Ajax-enabled user-interface
components. Oracle said developers would be able to assemble the
re-usable components on a page and connect them to an application
data source.
Oracle has integrated Ajax with the JavaServer Faces technology
to build interactive user interfaces that run within a browser.