GWT allows you to create Javascript Ajax-style applications while writing and even testing in full Java. Now you can make use of a drag-and-drop designer and a range of other tools - all for free.

Google has relaunched the Instantiations Java/Javascript web app developer tools - and all at the attractive price of "no charge". The core product is GWT designer which basically makes working with GWT Google Web Toolkit a matter of drag-and-drop design. A GWT project is written in Java but compiled to Javascript so that it can run on most of the major browsers.

It is a very attractive technology but until Google released this current range of tools using it wasn't as easy as it could be. Now you can simply download Eclipse, run an update with the GWT Designer URL and start to design Ajax-style Javascript client side applications without ever touching a line of Javascript. You can design the UI via drag-and-drop and write the code to make it all work in Java. When you are ready you can compile the code and interface to HTML and Javascript and deploy on any web server, targeting almost any web browser. The generated code can be optimised and obfuscated automatically.You can also work with Swing, SWT, RCP or XWT UI frameworks.

• GWT Designer
  An Eclipse-based development tool that enables Java developers to create Ajax user interfaces using Google Web Toolkit (GWT)
• CodePro AnalytiX An automated software code quality and security analysis tool.
• WindowBuilder Pro
  Java graphical user interface designer for Swing, SWT, GWT, RCP, and XWT UI frameworks
• WindowTester Pro
  Test GUI interactions within Java client rich applications for the SWT and Swing UI frameworks

Google has plans to improve the integration with the GWT SDK in later versions.

You can download any of the tools from the GWT download page.