Confused by purchase options

[carpii]

Hi all,

Ive started using GWT a few days ago, and so Im excited to see a set of professional grid widgets like those included in extgwt.

I have some questions though....

I see theres a seperate JS and GWT versions. Presumbly the JS version is for people who arent using GWT.

Id like to use GWT, but also have the option of using it in JS. Would I need to buy both versions? I guess what Im asking is, isnt the JavaScript version simply the output from GWT, and so by buying GWT Im effectively getting the ability to use it both from GWT and JS anyway?

Thanks
Carpii

[gslender]

ExtJS and ExtGWT are very different products, though visually they produce similar results.

ExtGWT is a UI framework that allows you to produce applications developed in Java based on GWT 1.5 - the output is compiled by GWT and is indeed JS but nothing like ExtJS. You get both client and server side Java code to work with and build applications with.

ExtJS is a JS only framework whereby all the development is client side and done within Javascript world. Server side is left as a problem for the developer (ie PHP/JSON/XML whatever you want). The output is what you make of it as its not compiled but assembled/scripted by you.

You cannot simply interchangeably use each framework together (at least not easily).

cheers,
grant

[carpii]

Hi Grant, thanks for the info.

Ive a few more questions please (brief answers would be fine, Im sure youre very busy)..

Are the JS and GWT versions functionally equivalent? Ie, Does the grid in both versions support exactly the same set of methods, behavior etc

Are they developed as seperate source trees? Ie, could it be that a hypothetical bug exists in one version, but in the other version its fine?

Assuming I dont mind whether I develop in JS, or in GWT, is there one version that is generally superior (performance, etc), or one version that is recommended over the other for whatever reason?

Finally If I did want to buy a single developer license for both versions, is there any sort of bundle discount available?

Thanks

[jpnet]

Hi Grant, thanks for the info.

Ive a few more questions please (brief answers would be fine, Im sure youre very busy)..

Are the JS and GWT versions functionally equivalent? Ie, Does the grid in both versions support exactly the same set of methods, behavior etc
No.



Are they developed as seperate source trees? Ie, could it be that a hypothetical bug exists in one version, but in the other version its fine?
They are separate source trees.



Assuming I dont mind whether I develop in JS, or in GWT, is there one version that is generally superior (performance, etc), or one version that is recommended over the other for whatever reason?
ExtJS the JS version, has a larger feature set. However, Darryl (the primary developer GXT [GWT version]) has been producing updates fairly rapidly. I have developed in both. I like GXT better. Why? I am developing an enterprise wide application. Developing a large application in javascript became rather cumbersome quickly. I also got tired of passing parameters to javascript methods as objects only later to realize there was a typo in one of my parameters but technically not a syntax error so javascript would never catch that. My own fault. Anyways, IMHO, the ease of developing a large application in Java (support for OOP) vs Javascript (nasty prototypes, no file includes, no namespaces) was my primary reason for switching. Note, I use Rails on the backend and GXT for the frontend. So far this approach has been much more successful then my approach using ExtJS the javascript library.



Finally If I did want to buy a single developer license for both versions, is there any sort of bundle discount available?
You should contact ExtJS about that. If I were you, I would pick one and write some test applications with it before you decided to purchase one. Also, note they are both open source released under the GPL. So, technically you don't need to purchase either one unless you don't want to release the source code or you don't need support. Talk to ExtJS for more information.

Hopefully this helps.

-JP

[gslender]

Hi Grant, thanks for the info.

Ive a few more questions please (brief answers would be fine, Im sure youre very busy)..


no problems... happy to help the community ;-)



Are the JS and GWT versions functionally equivalent? Ie, Does the grid in both versions support exactly the same set of methods, behavior etc

yes and no - the intention is that the functionality is the same, but in some cases ExtGWT will offer more, and because ExtJS is more mature, it may offer more. Whereever a widget exists, the functionality should be the same and work would be done to ensure that is the case.


Are they developed as seperate source trees? Ie, could it be that a hypothetical bug exists in one version, but in the other version its fine?

Yes, seperate source trees. No, a shared bugs between the two are not possible as the framework is very different (ie GWT != JS)


Assuming I dont mind whether I develop in JS, or in GWT, is there one version that is generally superior (performance, etc), or one version that is recommended over the other for whatever reason?

Honestly, IMO its apples and organges. If you like Java, Java tools and want to work in the same environment client and server then (like me) ExtGWT is for you. If you like Javascript, want to get down and dirty in the details and complexity of AJAX, are fine with using different tools for different parts of the solution then (unlike me) ExtJS is for you.

Performance should be better with ExtGWT and the Google GWT compiler can optimise the Java source into better JS than you can write. The only exception would be master-kung-fu JS programmers who can write better code than a compiler... is that you?


Finally If I did want to buy a single developer license for both versions, is there any sort of bundle discount available?
Thanks

Send an email to licensing@extjs.com

[carpii]

Many thanks for the info Grant

I have decided to abandon plans to use the JS version, and concentrate solely on GWT.

Cheers
Carpii