Today Google released the Google Web Toolkit (GWT) which is a Java framework that makes AJAX web applications easier to develop. I got my first taste of GWT today and have to say that Google has an AJAX product that makes building Java AJAX applications much easier to do. At least compared to my experiences in the past year.
A few of the features are that you don't have to write any Javascript. In comparison to other Java-based AJAX framework like DWR, you had to write some Javascript code. GWT generates all the necessary Javascript code for you! Google provides good examples for you to learn GWT.
Based on my first impression of GWT, they also provide decent documentation of GWT online. Anyway, this was a surprise that I happened to see in "Google Releases AJAX Framework".
Wednesday, May 17, 2006
Tuesday, May 09, 2006
The Modern Configuration Management System Solution
The de facto standard for source code version control is Concurrent Versions System or CVS as it is better known. Well, CVS has been around for a while and has a few flaws that most organizations just overlook. I used to work for one of those organizations that applied the "if it ain't broke, don't fix it" mentality toward source code version control. I have used PVCS, CVS, Teamsource, a few others and most recently Subversion.
CVS was good enough and it did what we required, most of the time. There were a issues with how CVS handles file renames, directory name changes, etc. which we just lived with like everyone else using CVS.
Well if you happen to use CVS today and just deal with all its binary file handling, file name change, directory handling flaws, I have some news for you. You should really consider migrating to the modern successor to CVS, Subversion. I had the opportunity to research, evaluate, test Subversion 1.3.1. I really should have done this a few years ago but now is as good a time any.
Subversion was designed to be a better CVS than CVS and I based on my experience they attained this goal. The primary reason for this is that I installed, tested and evaluated Subversion on Windows servers and it works as advertised. CVS is best installed and run on a Linux server. Subversion runs well in Linux and Windows.
Now I see why many of the Apache Software Foundation projects have switched to Subversion from CVS. Subversion handles binary files with ease and has all the nice GUI tools and Eclipse plugins that CVS has. I installed tested and really like RapidSVN, SmartSVN and TortoiseSVN. The Subclipse plugin for Eclipse 3.1 works very nicely. I did not find a good Netbeans 5.0 plugin which was my only disapppointment. Other than that, Subversion 1.3.1 is definitely ready for prime time. The Subversion website is an excellent source of information and tools available for Subversion. There are CVS to Subversion conversion tools which should make your transition smooth. I have not tried any of these repository conversion tools myself so I caveat my previous statement by saying your mileage may vary.
I found that the information in "Subversion UI Shootout" article is still relevant today. In the article "Setting up a Secure Subversion Server" which is geared towards Linux, the concepts can be applied to a Windows server deployment. For J2EE/Java EE environments, I found JavaSVN described in "Configuration Management in Java EE Applications Using Subversion" to be an excellent framework for Java server side development if you happen to need a servlet interface with your subversion repository.
For configuration management solutions today, I will be migrating everything I do related to configuration management to Subversion. It is definitely a better CVS than CVS and in my opinion, a good candidate for a modern open source configuration management system for more than just a source code version control system. I recommend that you use it for all your configuration management requirements if your organization is not adverse to open source technology. Good luck.
CVS was good enough and it did what we required, most of the time. There were a issues with how CVS handles file renames, directory name changes, etc. which we just lived with like everyone else using CVS.
Well if you happen to use CVS today and just deal with all its binary file handling, file name change, directory handling flaws, I have some news for you. You should really consider migrating to the modern successor to CVS, Subversion. I had the opportunity to research, evaluate, test Subversion 1.3.1. I really should have done this a few years ago but now is as good a time any.
Subversion was designed to be a better CVS than CVS and I based on my experience they attained this goal. The primary reason for this is that I installed, tested and evaluated Subversion on Windows servers and it works as advertised. CVS is best installed and run on a Linux server. Subversion runs well in Linux and Windows.
Now I see why many of the Apache Software Foundation projects have switched to Subversion from CVS. Subversion handles binary files with ease and has all the nice GUI tools and Eclipse plugins that CVS has. I installed tested and really like RapidSVN, SmartSVN and TortoiseSVN. The Subclipse plugin for Eclipse 3.1 works very nicely. I did not find a good Netbeans 5.0 plugin which was my only disapppointment. Other than that, Subversion 1.3.1 is definitely ready for prime time. The Subversion website is an excellent source of information and tools available for Subversion. There are CVS to Subversion conversion tools which should make your transition smooth. I have not tried any of these repository conversion tools myself so I caveat my previous statement by saying your mileage may vary.
I found that the information in "Subversion UI Shootout" article is still relevant today. In the article "Setting up a Secure Subversion Server" which is geared towards Linux, the concepts can be applied to a Windows server deployment. For J2EE/Java EE environments, I found JavaSVN described in "Configuration Management in Java EE Applications Using Subversion" to be an excellent framework for Java server side development if you happen to need a servlet interface with your subversion repository.
For configuration management solutions today, I will be migrating everything I do related to configuration management to Subversion. It is definitely a better CVS than CVS and in my opinion, a good candidate for a modern open source configuration management system for more than just a source code version control system. I recommend that you use it for all your configuration management requirements if your organization is not adverse to open source technology. Good luck.
Monday, May 01, 2006
Google's Latest Products In April 2006
Google has been busy in their software engineering division. They recently released SketchUp which is a 3D Modeling tool. "Google Launches Free 3D Modeling Software". SketchUp allows you to create 3D models and store in Google Earth.
Google released Google Calendar in April 2006 and in the usual Google style it is dubbed a 'Beta'. Well, if you have not had a chance to try it you should. I have used many web-based calendar products like Yahoo Calendar, Lotus Domino, Mozilla Calendar, Sunbird, and even Microsoft Outlook Web Access. Well, I will have to say that Google has done a good job of entering an already crowded market and managed to make a dent and establish some traction.
Like their other recent products, Google has integrated many AJAX features which makes this product really useful. I am most impressed with the ease of use and responsiveness of Google Calendar compared to the competition. For my first set of impressions, it is as responsive as Google Maps. Which I suspect is not an easy feat. The software engineers at Google have been quite busy.
The ease of use is the most important aspect of the new Google product. Scheduling events and appointpoints is the easiest I've seen in any web calendar or desktop calendar. You just click on the date and an AJAX style window pops up allowing you enter your event. This surprised me. The ease of sharing your calendar and keeping a private calendar all in one interface is innovative. This feature is much easier to use compared to others I have seen.
The intuitiveness of Google Calendar is the most impressive. To reschedule an evevent or appointment you just drag and drop. Wow! All this from within my web browser.
For now, Google Calendar has become my favorite web-based calendar software. The integrate AJAX features and the responsiveness of the product are what impress me the most. There is still some refinements to be made like integration with hand-held devices and mobile phones. I am sure these features will eventually find their way into Google Calendar. This will be an interesting product to watch evolve.
Google released Google Calendar in April 2006 and in the usual Google style it is dubbed a 'Beta'. Well, if you have not had a chance to try it you should. I have used many web-based calendar products like Yahoo Calendar, Lotus Domino, Mozilla Calendar, Sunbird, and even Microsoft Outlook Web Access. Well, I will have to say that Google has done a good job of entering an already crowded market and managed to make a dent and establish some traction.
Like their other recent products, Google has integrated many AJAX features which makes this product really useful. I am most impressed with the ease of use and responsiveness of Google Calendar compared to the competition. For my first set of impressions, it is as responsive as Google Maps. Which I suspect is not an easy feat. The software engineers at Google have been quite busy.
The ease of use is the most important aspect of the new Google product. Scheduling events and appointpoints is the easiest I've seen in any web calendar or desktop calendar. You just click on the date and an AJAX style window pops up allowing you enter your event. This surprised me. The ease of sharing your calendar and keeping a private calendar all in one interface is innovative. This feature is much easier to use compared to others I have seen.
The intuitiveness of Google Calendar is the most impressive. To reschedule an evevent or appointment you just drag and drop. Wow! All this from within my web browser.
For now, Google Calendar has become my favorite web-based calendar software. The integrate AJAX features and the responsiveness of the product are what impress me the most. There is still some refinements to be made like integration with hand-held devices and mobile phones. I am sure these features will eventually find their way into Google Calendar. This will be an interesting product to watch evolve.
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