Google is open sourcing a collection of Javascript tools today that will enable developers to build faster, more powerful and more efficient web applications using some of the same code that runs Gmail, Google Maps and Docs.
Why is Google doing this? Because the more powerful web applications become, the more important Google’s search, browser and nascent OS become. More relevant to developers than some grand anti-Microsoft conspiracy, though, is that some serious UI sweetness may be forthcoming.
Here’s what’s being made available today:
The Closure Compiler will scrunch up your weighty javascript for super-efficient deployment, allowing you to do more in the user’s browser with a much smaller code payload to deliver. The compiler is available in binary, as a web app and as an API. Google is also releasing a Firebug extension called Closure Inspector that will translate those compiled bits of code back into their original format.
The Closure Library is a collection of cross-browser, modular, “industrial strength” UI components from across the various Google properties. Rich text editor, DOM inspector, drag and drop ala Google Maps – you want it, you got it.
Also released are a number of high-efficiency Closure Templates.
Google’s Amit Agarwal says that all of the above were originally built as “20% time” projects but then became fundamental parts of some of the most popular Google applications. Now these technologies can be used in building your apps, as well.
It will be interesting to see how these Google offerings stack up and get adopted compared to Yahoo’s YUI library.
