> Forgive me if I'm missing something here but isn't this a bit > of a step backwards? > > Correct me if I'm wrong but the whole Flash based RIA thing > was supposed to address the difficulty with producing the > kind of applications you can produce with AJAX - as Micha > pointed out - these kind of applications require domscript > gurus and are not for the faint hearted. I would I imagine > due to cross browser issues. Flash has a few advantages such > as a consistent look and feel across platforms, and mobile > support (and yes I'm aware of the disadvantages) - I'm > confused why the sudden uptake as a result of Google' recent > applications. As others have pointed out this is nothing new. > > I guess Macromedia really did shoot themselves in the foot > with the pricing of Flex - I can' help but wonder the type of > applications and rapid uptake we would have seen had they not > priced it so high.
I wouldn't say it's a step backwards; it's more like walking side-by-side. A lot of the ideas behind Flash RIAs and Flex are intended to address the deficiencies in DHTML interfaces, and Flash (or something like it) will probably replace DHTML interfaces in the long term. But a few of the problems of DHTML have resolved themselves. For example, more-or-less cross-platform DHTML is easier now than it used to be. Also, DHTML programming isn't all that hard. Being a "domscript guru" simply isn't that hard for an experienced programmer. As for MM shooting themselves in the foot, the price of Flex is simply not that much given the typical development time for a complex web application, so I don't buy that at all. There are some interface problems that Flash is simply not ready to solve, and in the short term DHTML interfaces may be a better answer than Flash for those problems. The tables may turn when Flash Player 8 comes out, for all I know. Dave Watts, CTO, Fig Leaf Software http://www.figleaf.com/ Fig Leaf Software provides the highest caliber vendor-authorized instruction at our training centers in Washington DC, Atlanta, Chicago, Baltimore, Northern Virginia, or on-site at your location. Visit http://training.figleaf.com/ for more information! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~| Logware (www.logware.us): a new and convenient web-based time tracking application. Start tracking and documenting hours spent on a project or with a client with Logware today. Try it for free with a 15 day trial account. http://www.houseoffusion.com/banners/view.cfm?bannerid=67 Message: http://www.houseoffusion.com/lists.cfm/link=i:4:199194 Archives: http://www.houseoffusion.com/cf_lists/threads.cfm/4 Subscription: http://www.houseoffusion.com/lists.cfm/link=s:4 Unsubscribe: http://www.houseoffusion.com/cf_lists/unsubscribe.cfm?user=89.70.4 Donations & Support: http://www.houseoffusion.com/tiny.cfm/54
