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javaweb-applicationsrich-internet-application

rich web application (with AJAX) frameworks that integrate with Java

There are a few questions that approach an answer to this question, but none that really helped me out.

I have a web application with a back-end written in Spring/Java that currently has a very web 1.0 interface, I would like to build a richer more interactive version of the site using a RIA (rich internet application) framework.

I am keen on RIA frameworks that support layout managers as well as UI component libraries. (as I always find myself wondering why some div is in the wrong place, or has the wrong border etc, and i am not a web UX person;-)

I have previous experience using the eclipse RAP framework, and while that actually worked quite nicely, it was very restrictive and a tiny bit buggy.

I have listed the following frameworks, with my experiences and would like to see answers on whether I am correct in my assessment, and any other suggestions or fuller information.

Edit: here is a document with some breakdowns of various RIA frameworks and libs available to Java RIA_Frameworks

Many Thanks.

ExtJS / ExtGWT ExtGWT product page
SmartGWT
Get-Ext
pros:

  • open source lib available
  • Java api
  • has a demo with a funky guitar track ;-)
  • lots of UI components available
  • layout manager

cons:

  • it seems that theme-ing it must be difficult as all the implementations look really like "extJS"
  • as I want to use Java to bind to the UI components the integration is important
  • there are people complaining about how it doesn;t work very well; http://whatwouldnickdo.com/wordpress/235/gwt-ext-to-ext-gwt/
  • the status of the various GWT integrated products is quite confused

OpenLaszlo
pros:

  • appears to support "real time" components like stock tickers well
  • integrates with lightspeed http server

cons

  • looks to need a developer license to access the SDK

Backbase
pros

  • cons

RAP RAP demo site pros:

  • can leverage SWT code investment
  • eclipse integration

cons:

  • inflexible
  • deployment was a pain
  • hard to troubleshoot bugs
  • doesn't seem to support

TIBCO general interface TIBCO GI opensource

pros

  • open source available
  • integrates with lightstreamer http live streaming server

cons

  • doesn't look very easy to get started

JSF and http://jboss.org/richfaces.

Pro's:

  • JSF can be somewhat considered a standard
  • RichFaces has great support and easily integrates with JSF
  • RichFaces has all sorts of handy GUI components

Cons:

  • Steep learning curve for JSF
  • Performance of both JSF and RichFaces are not incredible. Use it wisely (not for 1000 concurrent sessions)
  • no layout manager, need to get down and dirty with DIVS and css
Solution

  • I have made excellent experience with JSF and http://jboss.org/richfaces. Pro's:

    • JSF can be somewhat considered a standard
    • RichFaces has great support and easily integrates with JSF
    • RichFaces has all sorts of handy GUI components

    Cons:

    • Steep learning curve for JSF
    • Performance of both JSF and RichFaces are not incredible. Use it wisely (not for 1000 concurrent sessions)