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First, let's consider how things were before we had compulsory web applications, when I was free to bang out little applications in my environment of choice: Delphi/Win32. The programming model looked something like this:

Diagram describing delightful simplicity of Delphi Win32 program

Diagram describing delightful simplicity of Delphi Win32 program

As you can see, things are fairly straightforward. The UI construction is confined in one place; everything can be done - editing, compiling, debugging and testing - using a single tool. The user gets a responsive and sophisticated interface to his new application. Verily this is Rapid Application Development as it should be.

Now let's see what happens when we upgrade this to a Web 1.0 experience.

Block diagram showing Web 1.0 program architecture

Block diagram showing Web 1.0 program architecture

The programming side of things remains more or less under control, although the tools available to do it are less satisfactory. However, at least the interface generation is straightforward. The user experience has become rubbish, however.

Finally, the Web 2.0 situation:

Architecture diagram illustrating the confusion inherent in Web 2.0 applications

Architecture diagram illustrating the confusion inherent in Web 2.0 applications

In Web 2.0, we are able to create a Rich Internet Application, and give the user the experience he deserves. Careful observers may notice, however, that the programming model has lost some of its former coherence.

If you understood the point that I have made, and the implications it has for coding up apps with client-side bells coordinated with server-side whistles, please could you come round and explain it to my boss R? He thinks I am making a fuss about nothing.

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Latest Comments

I started reading this article....

...when it was first posted.

But then I came across Desktop Tower Defender and lost all track of time! Finally got round to finishing reading the article today.

Fantastic game! lol

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JQuery for AJAX?

This should have been included in the AJAX table.

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Too long for a comedy piece.

I agree with David Whitney. It was rather too long for a comedy piece.

On the strength of what people have been saying about it, I'm giving GWT a long close look. If all goes well, I'll be able to ditch the technology I'm currently using then I'll be just another Java coder. Then I won't need to write (or read) another line of JavaScript ever again because GWT does that for me. Oh, and the Java-to-JavaScript translator really does work (so I'm told). I bet Verity has never bothered using GWT to write actual applications.

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