Google Wave: Up and Running

Google Wave Gadgets API Fundamentals

As you’ve seen in the previous examples in this chapter and Chapter 5, the self-contained structure of gadgets allows for easy deployment of these mini-apps on a wave. Because Google Wave gadgets are similar to the gadgets used in other Google containers, it’s fairly easy to design and develop Google Wave gadgets if you’re already familiar with the generic Google Gadgets API.

Tip

Keep in mind that there are two gadgets APIs. When I use the phrase “generic Google Gadgets API,” I am referring to an already established Google Gadgets API that is used for various containers, such as iGoogle and Orkut. The “Google Wave Gadgets API” is a distinct, yet complementary, API that can be used specifically with waves as gadget containers. You can learn more about the generic Google Gadgets API at http://code.google.com/apis/gadgets.

Currently the methods and objects that are available in the Google Wave Gadgets API are not as extensive as those available in the generic Google Gadgets API. The two APIs are not mutually exclusive, however, and many of the methods used in the generic Google Gadgets API can be used in Google Wave gadgets (which is also the reason that generic Google gadgets can be used in waves).

Developing Wave-Aware Gadgets

There are several important distinctions between what the Google Wave team describes as nonwave gadgets and wave-aware gadgets. Nonwave gadgets are generic Google gadgets that do not utilize methods or features of the Google ...