Google has released a version 1.2 of the Google Web Toolkit which has been tweaked to deliver better performance.

The application has been ported to Apple's OS X operating system, and developers now are able to add widgets such as text boxes and check boxes to expandable menus known as tree items.

Launched as a beta at JavaOne in May, the Google Web Toolkit lets developers convert Java code to an Asynchronous JavaScript and XML (Ajax) application. Part of the application have been released under the Apache 2.0 open source licence.

Ajax is a popular programming language that allows developers to craft online applications. Examples of Ajax applications include Flickr and Gmail.

Developing Ajax applications is a challenging process because tools such as the Dojo Development Toolkit are still relatively immature. Hand written code, meanwhile, often lacks in browser compatibility.

By allowing developers to convert Java code into an Ajax application, the Google Web Toolkit tackles most of the issues faced by developers.

The Google Web Toolkit is available as free download.