I completely agree to a lot of what you have to say. Simply put, I don't knock AJAX as I believe it has it's place and the same holds true for Flash.
The sad part about Java applets was the runtime download. The idea was sound, but the implementation wasn't there. No user in there right mind will download 10MB+ for the opportunity to see and rotating cube... and even the actual useful applications didn't run exceptionally well even after they loaded. Everything has it's place... !k PS. Is it "gang up on the Flash guy" day or something? =] -----Original Message----- From: John Paul Ashenfelter [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: May 15, 2006 11:29 PM To: CF-Talk Subject: Re: Hype 2.0 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:4:240615 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
