Difference between GAS, GWT, and Google app engine

Question

I am new to app script so I found the documentation a bit confusing. I see there is a way to develop google apps in eclipse using a GWT plugin. But when I dig deeper I find out this method needs me to know well Java, which I dont. I know well javascript and I thought the plugin could let me write appscript.gs files on eclipse but I dont know how. How do i distinguish GAS, GWT and app engine (layman please) and is there a way to write GAS offline?

Answer 1

I am not sure if these information will help but here...

The differences between GAS, GWT, and GAE (Google App Engine) are the following:

• GAS is a JavaScript cloud scripting language that provides easy ways to automate tasks across Google products and third party services. So, actually you cannot write GAS offline, and you have to go online (http://script.google.com).

• GWT is a development toolkit for building and optimizing complex browser-based applications. So, it helps you developping your product more easily.

• GAE is a platform as a service (PaaS) cloud computing platform for developing and hosting web applications in Google-managed data centers.

Even if you're not comfortable with Java, you can still developp a Google app very easily.

I would suggest you to use the Google App Engine for Python. Everything is explained here: https://developers.google.com/appengine/docs/python/overview

You can developp your app offline with eclipse and then publish it on Google's servers.

Even if you do not know Python, the tutorial explains everything quite clearly (and Python it is a very friendly and funny programming language ;) )