GWT and .NET

Question

How can I use GWT together with Visual Studio to create an ASP.NET website? If it is possible.

Answer 1

GWT can be used with any back end with a little work. Out of the box it uses a servlet container but you don't need to keep this container. The key item in the container is the script tag to load the GWT compiled code, for example:

<script language='javascript' src='com.abaqus.gwt.GeoApp.nocache.js'></script>

GWT takes it from there and is at this point independent of the back-end if you want it to be. The one are that is a source of confusion is the GWT RPC. This does not need to be used as GWT supports general JSON request support. .NET integration using JSON discussed here:

http://groups.google.com/group/Google-Web-Toolkit/browse_thread/thread/9e1c82cd67e2f27b?hl=en

There are also projects that are tying GWT RPC to .NET see:

http://code.google.com/p/gwtrpcnet/

GWT is used pretty successfully with a number of back-ends other than Java servlets so as hassles, other than working out the details of initial setup there shouldn't be many. Even debugging in Eclipse should work (yes .NET'rs will need to use Eclipse to debug)

Answer 2

You can use GWT to generate the client side code writing in Java and use asp.net for the back end.

It's a little trickier as you won't get the serialization across the wire for free that you'd get from using Java on the back end too.

I wouldn't really recommend this approach it's bound to be a hassle to maintain.

I'd recommend using a good javascript toolkit instead, such as jquery and jquery UI.