Drew, Opps!! I still refer to Macromedia as Allaire, although they are now one, under the name Macromedia.
I really need to look further into FlashMX, and the Flash remoting features of JRUN 4.0, before I set my mind in stone on the subject. It's not clear in my mind whether the flash portion of the site was actually being downloaded and run locally on my machine as an Active X component (as in previous versions), or if it was being run on Macromedia's server, which sent me ONLY the info I needed to complete my request, and that info was being run locally on my machine as an Active X component. What really did turn me off was the fact it took so long to run the "program" from the hyperlink provided on Macromedia's web site. In my mind, the scenario of me running this product off of Macromedia's web site "simulated" what a public user would experience running a similar program off of my web servers. And it ran VERY slow, which was a real turn off for me. But as you point out, the lack of a really nice "GUI" type of interface for the web "end user" when your "on" a Java/JSP/servlets based web site is the down side of this technology. I have NEVER used applets, there are too many issues associated with Applets on a public web site in my opinion. I agree with you that DHTML is pretty limited, no matter how great a guru you are with JavaScript. MS new .NET platform does have the advantage over Java/JSP/servlet technology to some extent on this one subject, as some of the .NET controls have a nicer look/feel than DHTML controls. Now if Flash improved to the point that it ran fairly quickly for a user connected to my web site via a 33K Modem, AND it would be portable to another JSP/servlet/EJB server/container (other than JRUN), then I would definitely consider using it as the "GUI" for my site over DHTML. On my end, one of the things we really make sure we stick to in our development is portability, as I would really like to get off the MS servers and over to Unix servers someday, if I can ever convince the management to make the move. I'll probably look more into Flash remoting and JRUN 4.0 after Sept 1 of this year. Celeste -----Original Message----- From: Drew Falkman [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]] Sent: Thursday, June 20, 2002 11:22 AM To: JRun-Talk Subject: RE: Pet Store on JRun The alternative is that the user has to continually load 50k pages full of categorical information again and again. Additionally, think of the performance savings if everyone has a "thick" client and the only information being sent to and from the server is the actual information needed. So maybe there is a larger load on the front end, but the savings is dramatic once its loaded. (I don't think Macromedia threw much server at the pet market demo - it ran a lot faster when I deployed it on my machine) The socket between Flash and the server is native, which means very little information is being passed between the two. That said, you're right, it's probably not for every site. And some users may need to download Flash Player v.6 the first time - which has been downloaded more than any other version - 200 million times. But I respect your opinion. I, personally think that this by far the best solution for running more dynamic applications over the Web yet. DHTML had too many browser incompatibilities to every be worth using extensively - plus it took forever to develop. Applets are too confining and buggy on the client, plus Windows probably won't have a JVM anymore - which is a huge download. The new flash allows for component development, which means that UI components can be plugged in, etc. so development will be ever quicker. The old HTML way, when it comes to developing enterprise applications, is just too cumbersome. I don't know if this is it, but it is closer than anything else... Also... Allaire...? -Drew -----Original Message----- From: Haseltine, Celeste [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]] Sent: Thursday, June 20, 2002 7:55 AM To: JRun-Talk Subject: RE: Pet Store on JRun I think I remember reading on Allaire's web site that the Flash version would work on any J2EE compliant server as long as you had the Flash MX deploy kit(?) installed. I can't remember if they called it a deploy kit, or something else, but it basically checks to see if the user's machine has flash installed, and if not, will prompt them to download it before they can view the site. One thing I did note when I played with the Flash version on Allaire's web site (note I did NOT download it, I decided to run it on Allaire's web site, as a user would if he/she were visiting my web site). I decided to connect to the internet via our T1 at our server farm, which was under heavy load at the time. It took me fully 3 minutes and 22 seconds for the flash intro to download onto my local machine. During my navigation through the web site, it took me between 1 minute to 1 minute 46 seconds for my "click" actions on the different pets to "change" the screen to display the pet list. Although I really do like Flash, using this type of approach on a public web site is just not a wise decision in my opinion, particularly keeping in mind that fully 60% of the user population still uses dial up modems (NOT cable modems or T1 connections). Flash is still too slow to build a complete web site around, particularly for those users who are still using a dial up connection to surf/purchase stuff on the internet. Again, just my opinion. Celeste Haseltine, PE MTL, Inc Dallas, TX -----Original Message----- From: Niteesh [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]] Sent: Thursday, June 20, 2002 12:52 AM To: JRun-Talk Subject: Re: Pet Store on JRun Dear Matthew, The flash based petstore is very good. A query was that would the Flash MX- Java petstore also function on any other J2ee compliant server? or just Jrun. Regards, Niteesh Elias. *================================================================* Sr Design Technologist Puretech Internet Pvt. Ltd. http://www.puretech.co.in 77 Atlanta. Nariman Point. tel. +91 22 2833158 Mumbai 400 021. India fax. +91 22 2854713 *=================================================================* ----- Original Message ----- From: "Matthew Horn" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: "JRun-Talk" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Wednesday, June 19, 2002 11:02 PM Subject: Pet Store on JRun > There is a new page that contains links to running examples of the Pet Store and the Pet Market (Pet Store with a Flash front-end): > http://blueprints.macromedia.com > > Also, Macromedia rolled out a Blueprint Application des/dev center with tons of great content at: > http://www.macromedia.com/desdev/mx/blueprint/ > > It includes a link to JRun instructions, but is primarily focused on Flash/rich-media applications running on Macromedia server products (includeing CF and JRun). > > -------- > > Matthew J. Horn > Sr. Technical Writer > < m a c r o m e d i a > > ______________________________________________________________________ This list and all House of Fusion resources hosted by CFHosting.com. 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