Google Apps Script vs Google Gadget API

Core Ideas:
  • Google Apps Script is similar to Microsoft VBA (which is based on vbscript) for Google Apps products, which is based on Javascript.
  • Google Gadget API, a gadget is like Java Applet.
Both are development API (Application Programming Interface) for developers.

Google Apps Scripts is not a run time by itself, it is scripting. Google Gadget is a run time by itself, it is a web application to be hosted on a server. You can host it with Google Code: http://code.google.com/hosting.

Application:
  • Google Apps Scripts: Perform automation within Google Apps products. For instance, to search for a particular page within a Google Site.
  • Google Gadget API: Retrieve contents from external into Google Sites such as displaying blog contents from blogspot in Google Site or displaying photo slides from Facebook in Google Site.
Development tools:
  1. Google Gadgets
    • Google Gadget Editor (available from iGoogle page of your Google account)
    • Or a combination of text editor and Subversion (version control) software.
  2. Google Apps Script
    Apps Script editor of each Google Apps product (such as Google Site,Google Doc Spreadsheet and etc)


Conclusion:
  • Google Gadgets can be hosted in other environment.
  • Google Apps scripts only run in Google Apps Product's environment.
  • If you want to customize Google Apps Product, make use of Google Apps Script.
  • If you want to perform link external software with Google Apps Product, make use of Google Gadgets API.

More on Google
Google Apps API vs Facebook Apps API
Understanding Google Apps APIs

Comments

Anonymous said…
GPS positioning and mobile SEO guide potential customers right to your front door iphone app designers.
mobile application development
KyaliApps said…
Can Gadget API used for Mobile App
Brandon Teoh said…
hi,

I don't have direct experience. But assuming you are using PhoneGap to develop a mobile app.

I would think that it is possible to invoke Google Gadget API by referencing the Gadgets XML Reference.

https://developers.google.com/gadgets/docs/xml_reference
Unknown said…
nicely presented.thanks for sharing.

Cheap SEO Packages
Anonymous said…
Great post. I agree with all of your points here. As an addition, I would like to say that hiring expert mobile app developers is as important as these points because they are the one taking care of your apps till the end. Good Luck!