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Jquery vs GWT

in Getting Started • 2 years ago

1.1 Which Devices/Browsers does it support?

Both Jquery and GWT claims to support any web Browser which supports javascript irrespective of the device. So we can rephrase the answer stating that both runs on any device using a browser, which support JavaScript.

So now our question should be:

Which devices and browsers are supported by JS?

Platform/Tool	JS Browsers
MAC	Safari, firefox
iPhone	Safari, chrome
Windows	IE, Firefox, chrome
Linux	Firefox,
Android	Safari, chrome

jQuery supports these browsers:

Firefox 2.0+ , Internet Explorer 6+ , Safari 3+, Opera 9+, Chrome 1+

As per GWT Overview at http://code.google.com/webtoolkit/overview.html

When you're ready to deploy, GWT compiles your Java source code into optimized, stand-alone JavaScript files that automatically run on all major browsers, as well as mobile browsers for Android and the iPhone.

Sencha touch: Sencha Touch is webkit based library hence works only with webkit based browsers. i.e: Crome, Safari.

References:

http://googlewebtoolkit.blogspot.com/2007/09/gwt-application-development-for-iphone.html

http://clay.lenharts.net/blog/2009/05/25/gwt-is-flexible-iphone-demo/

http://docs.jquery.com/Browser_Compatibility

1.2 How powerful is the Component Library?

Jquery, Sench and gwt has huge library support but Jquery is more popular because of its easy fusion with other libraries. In gwt for achieving this we use JavaScript Native Interface (JSNI). Sencha can also integrate other libraries.

Jquery

jQuery UI http://jqueryui.com/ provides abstractions for low-level interaction and animation, advanced effects and high-level, theme able widgets, built on top of the jQuery JavaScript Library, that you can use to build highly interactive web applications.

But Jquery Mobile which is mobile counterpart of the Jquery UI, is still a kid. As per the current status, component list for devices is still less as compared to sencha.

Sencha

Sencha touch is an extension of EXT library and majorly provides components for devices. List of components designed for devices is huge.

Gwt

As per information stated at http://code.google.com/webtoolkit/tools.html GWT has huge library support to build RIA Projects.

For the demo, checkout the following site

http://gwt-ext.com/demo/

1.3 How is the CSS support?

Jquery

Using Jquery to extend css.

http://www.scribd.com/doc/23649844/Using-jQuery-to-Extend-CSS. Jquery UI provides a powerful CSS support.

Sencha

Sencha uses CSS 3 and works only on browsers which supports CSS3. One the one hand it’s an advantage as it uses advance CSS features but at the same time in the short run it’s a disadvantage because its restricting your area of coverage to limited browsers.

Gwt

GWT uses Cascading Style Sheets (CSS). Every widget has its own style, which you can change to meet your needs. You must create your own CSS to overload the defaults defined by GWT.

1.4 What are the ways for code organization

Jquery

Using object oriented programming with jQuery are limited

Sencha

Using sencha we can conceptually implement OOPS and organize our classes very well

Gwt

http://www.manning.com/hanson/

With GWT, you can build your applications using a real object-oriented language and take advantage of Java tools like Eclipse that are already available

As per http://www.oracle.com/technology/pub/articles/dubois-gwt.html A GWT project must comply with a pre-defined structure in order to be accepted by the compiler.

1.5 Development approach

Jquery

Existing HTML is enhanced upon to achieve results. Developers of AS3, java find it bit difficult to write code.

Sencha

It creates its own DOM based on objects created in JS. Developers of AS3, java can easily relate the way of coding.

Gwt

It creates its own DOM.

Developers of AS3, java can easily relate the way of coding.

Replies(4)

coolsegi

Re: Jquery vs GWT

2 years ago

1.6 How powerful is the support system?

Jquery

There are extensive community , forums and dedicated website that provides great support and hundreds of different new plug-ins. Microsoft itself will now work in concert with the jQuery JavaScript Library team to accelerate the creation of new features that make creating rich-web applications on any platform faster and easier.

Sencha

Sencha support system is poor. Support team does not respond even to the paid customers. There are lots of sencha users who are not happy with the support service.

Gwt

Google Web Toolkit developer has a number of community resources are already available for GWT. At every stage of development, there is a range of support and services available to ensure the success of your projects. But it is strictly limited to java developers

1.6 Is it lightweight? / Performance

Jquery

It is lightweight.

Sencha

It is lightweight, creates all the elements dynamically. Core classes are designed to take care of the unused resources.

Gwt

Due to its architecture gwt might perform bit slow as compared to Jquery. There are lots overheads while code compilation.

Reference:

http://www.coderanch.com/t/121369/GWT/comparison-GWT-jQuery

1.7 Editors?

1.7.1 Jquery

Development is far from being mature. There is not much IDE Support.

Editors

	Plugin
Eclips	http://www.langtags.com/jquerywtp/
Dreamweaver	http://xtnd.us/dreamweaver/jquery
Visual studio	http://weblogs.asp.net/scottgu/archive/2008/11/21/jquery-intellisense-in-vs-2008.aspx

1.7.2 Sencha

There are not much IDE support. No sencha specific code hinting is available. Although just like jquery any editor can be used.

1.7.3 Gwt

Provides all the benefits of Java development – excellent IDE support.

Editors:

	Plugin
Eclips	http://code.google.com/eclipse/docs/install-eclipse-3.5.html
Dreamweaver
GWT designer

1.8 Performance testing Tool

Speed Tracer

Speed Tracer is a Chrome Extension that allows you to pinpoint performance problems in your web applications.

Can be used with sencha, Jquery and gwt.

For jQuery there are lots of performance testing tools available like QUnit, JSUnit, YUITest, FireUnit.

1.9 Unit teting

1.9.1 Jquery

FireUnit Firefox Firebug Add-on and also the QUnit Unit Testing framework for jQuery is available for unit testing.

1.9.2 Gwt

GWT has support built in with its GWTTestCase class. This is based on Junit testing.

1 Conclusion

From project management point of view gwt has edge over the jquery and sencha. Managing code is more organized as compared to Jquery but at the same time there are some overheads as well. Although when we compare jquery with sencha then we find sencha more useful at this standard.

Being a vast project, interaction with other libraries might be required time to time. If we go with gwt then we will have to dependent on the libraries supported by gwt only but choosing jquery gives more flexibility. The same can be achieved through sencha as well.

Points highlighted in below mentioned table can be decision factors for choosing a library. Jquery and sencha are the fast competitors and it’s a very tuff decision to take.

One the other hand if we are easily able to use a fusion of both (jquery and sencha) then this could be best deal. But that would require little bit of research.

awirick

Re: Jquery vs GWT

2 years ago

Hello coolsegi,

Nice work on doing some homework and not dogmatically selecting one tool/library or another.

A few things to note:

Your review doc says that jQuery likely yields higher performance than gwt, but the summary has the opposite conclusion.
I would disagree on the unit testing front. QUnit supplies all the unit testing I have needed, even in enterprise coding situations. Adding test fixtures to run against libraries or html pages themselves has been incredibly useful and has gotten the code coverage I am looking for.
You seem to be seeking out an object-oriented approach. Why strip the language of so much dynamic power? Code organization can still be achieved in javascript. It requires some shifts in approach.
The audience for gwt vs. jQuery is very different. gwt is specifically targeting Java developers. Part of jQuery's popularity is that it is native javascript and is (outside of javascript itself) not dependent upon specific other languages or IDEs to get the job done. gwt has little hope of being used in an enterprise that has decided to use the Microsoft technology stack for development purposes.

Generally I would assert that you may be missing out on incredible expressive power in JavaScript if staying only in the Java realm.

Happy Coding,
awirick

coolsegi

Re: Jquery vs GWT

2 years ago

Hi Awirick,

You are right that summary has the opposite conclusion but actually out of the points mentioned in the summary few points have more weight than others and can be discussion making factors while choosing. In my summary I have bold these points and gwt lacks on most of these. I hope you will agree on that.

Thanks for your input on the Qunit.

And you are right, actually I want to use the flexibility of Jquery but using object oriented approach and trying to find the best approach these days. Any further input on this would be very helpful.

coolsegi

szabomarc..

Re: Jquery vs GWT

2 years ago

I want to use the flexibility of Jquery but using object oriented approach and trying to find the best approach these days. Any further input on this would be very helpful.

I think you should take a look at Dojo's declare() function, and the provide() require() functions. I love these, and would love to see a stand-alone version of them that can be used as a jquery plugin. (Hmm, copy-paste?

)

Anyway, if you load Dojo, you can still load jQuery as well. I think jQuery is much more powerful in DOM manipulation. Besides the OO, Dojo has some nice goodies in the topic of widgets as well.

Cheers,

Marcell

szabomarcell gmail.com

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