On 5/15/06, Kevin Aebig <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > Tsk Tsk... > > The sad fact is that most developers prefer AJAX because they either can't > budget something like custom Flash into their projects, or they simply don't > have the time to learn Flash.
I think that's a pretty poor generalization. AJAX using one of the more standard toolkits like prototype or dojo provides a lot of nicely degradable, cross-platform eyecandy for far less money and hassle that Flash. Assuming you want eyecandy or the _basic_ feel of a low-end VB-style desktop app... :) > AJAX doesn't hold a candle to Flash in terms of features and flex-ibility > (pun intended). Their true area of overlap is fairly minor -- the bulk of AJAX's core functionality is "invisible" requests back to the web server and very dynamic GUI effects for DOM elements in a web page. Flash is a much more comprehensive environment -- you're not going to get a javascript-based video codec for example ;) Though Flash is also quite capable of pushing XML requests back an forth too. But both have their place -- take the now common AJAX effect of new text added to a web page being highlighted in a fading yellow (or other color) that disappears over a short period of time. That's a great example of an effect that adds to the look/feel of a page _and_ that doesn't make the page useless if js is disabled. What would the equivalent Flash look like -- and how well would it degrade. Aside: I'm equally annoyed by fluff like a puff of smoke when I delete an item -- AJAX or Flash, it doesn't matter. Cute the first few times, but I just want to see it disappear. Keep in mind that while to the _user_ both an AJAX GUI and a Flash GUI are just that (GUIs), AJAX development is all about interacting with the HTML DOM while Flash is all about timelines and interactive (embedded) components. Two different models -- with some moderate amount of overlap to an end user -- that are appropriate for two VERY different kinds of development. Now Flash (esp Flex) and the new Microsoft Sparkle stuff -- _that's_ a more relevant comparison since they are both aimed at the same market. The same market that Java applets failed to make inroads in -- *applications* that are distributed through the web. -- John Paul Ashenfelter CTO/Transitionpoint (blog) http://www.ashenfelter.com (email) [EMAIL PROTECTED] ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~| Message: http://www.houseoffusion.com/lists.cfm/link=i:4:240614 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=11502.10531.4 Donations & Support: http://www.houseoffusion.com/tiny.cfm/54
