How to develop a GWT application for Google App Engine?

[stsch77]

What is the suggested approach to setup a development environment for developing a GWT application with GWT Designer that is deployed to Google App Engine?

First create a GWT project with GWT designer and then try to add support for App Engine using the Google Eclipse plugin?

Or first create a project with the plugin and then add the support for GWT Designer tools?

[Eric Clayberg]

Either option should work fine.

[stsch77]

Either option should work fine.

The first approach (create a GWT project with GTW Designer, then add App Engine functionality) already wouldn't work out of the box. I right-click on my GWT project --> Properties --> Google --> App Engine --> Check "Use Google App Engine" and then realize that the file "appengine-web.xml" plus some other mandatory/helpful files don't get generated and are missing Can you confirm this?

[stsch77]

Or first create a project with the plugin and then add the support for GWT Designer tools?

This also doesn't seem to work. Many side effects. The Run configuration gets overwritten, for example, in particular from com.google.appengine.tools.development.DevAppServerMain to com.google.gwt.dev.DevMode plus some other arguments to the program and the VM get changed. That's not what I want.

So what could be a practicable approach to setup such a project (GWT Designer plus App Engine)? Ideally without any rework afterwards.

[Eric Clayberg]

I right-click on my GWT project --> Properties --> Google --> App Engine --> Check "Use Google App Engine" and then realize that the file "appengine-web.xml" plus some other mandatory/helpful files don't get generated and are missing

If you are having problems with the "Use Google App Engine" command, you should report this to Google on their GWT forum. That command is not provided by GWT Designer, and we have no control over what it does or does not do. If there are files that command should add in order to simplify setting up the project to use the GAE, you should also make those suggestions to Google as well. They are typically very responsive to feedback. BTW, if you create a simple GWT project using the GPE, the same thing will happen (or not happen) when you try to add GAE support. You have two choices...add the files you need by hand (which should make it work fine) or ask Google for the appropriate fix/enhancement to better automate the process.

The Run configuration gets overwritten, for example, in particular from com.google.appengine.tools.development.DevAppServerMain to com.google.gwt.dev.DevMode plus some other arguments to the program and the VM get changed. That's not what I want.

I don't see any problem with adding the GWT Designer nature and builder to a GPE project. GWT Designer does not override anything in the GPE launch configuration. In fact, I can create two launch configurations - GPE "Web Application", using com.google.appengine.tools.development.gwt.AppEngineLauncher and GWT Designer "GWT Application" using com.google.gwt.dev.DevMode - both of which seem to work just fine.

[wittml]

I just installed GWT Designer 7.6.0 and was able to get app engine to work (easiest way) by:

1. Create an app engine/gwt project like normal.
2. Delete the default entry point.
3. Create an entry point using GWT designer.

Steps 2 and 3 probably could have been combined into one step as: Open your java client using the WindowBuilder editor.

[Eric Clayberg]

I just installed GWT Designer 7.6.0 and was able to get app engine to work (easiest way) by:
1. Create an app engine/gwt project like normal.
2. Delete the default entry point.
3. Create an entry point using GWT designer.
Steps 2 and 3 probably could have been combined into one step as: Open your java client using the WindowBuilder editor.

You should be able to use the GAE-created entry point just by opening it with the WindowBuilder Editor.

[deuce4]

One glitch with the above method is that if you create the GWT/GAE project by the normal means, then use the WindowBuilder create RemoteService Wizard, the Async class does not get created. Odd, can't really see why it would work with a project created in WindowBuilder, verses a project created with the Google default tools, but it only seems to work in the former case.

[Eric Clayberg]

One glitch with the above method is that if you create the GWT/GAE project by the normal means, then use the WindowBuilder create RemoteService Wizard, the Async class does not get created. Odd, can't really see why it would work with a project created in WindowBuilder, verses a project created with the Google default tools, but it only seems to work in the former case.

There is a very simply explanation for that (which has been explained several times in this forum in the past). If you don't convert the project into a WindowBuider/GWT Designer project (see the docs), then the special builder that creates and updates the Async class is never run.