Has Flash supplanted Java?
Here's a compelling argument: has Flash, with its ActionScript becoming more and more powerful as a client-side developmental platform, completely wiped Java out of the picture in that space?
There was a time when anyone expecting to do great things in Web application development was expected to know — or at least, to learn — Java. It promised to be, after all, a truly portable, platform-independent, programming environment that offered security, robust features and an interpreted, easy-to-comprehend, object-oriented language structure. It could even be run within a browser thanks to a ubiquitous plug-in.With so much attention these days devoted to the Flash vs. AJAX debate, has Java already been stepped over as a legitimate platform for creating great Web applications?
In other words, it promised the Web everything that Macromedia Flash delivered.
posted by Jason Salas @ 1:11 AM
2 Comments:
At December 31, 2005 3:56 AM,
Tinjaw said…
I think that the old adage of "the right tool for the job" is seeing a popular resurgence. The most current tip of that spear is the online conversation about Beyond Java. One energetic discussion thread is at TSS. I think that Ruby on Rails and Flex are the current leaders for web-based development, but things like Trails, Sails, and other java-based initiatives will probably produce something that is tuned for the type of quick and easy development RoR and Flex provide. I admit that I plan on playing with RoR some, but then again, I have never worked with only one language, or even just primarily with one language. Since I have never had a job specifically as a software programmer on a particular project, I haven't hand the need to do so. I have always been involved in tech support, QA, system/sales engineering, prototyping, etc. that always meant being familiar with and using multiple development environments, stacks, what not.
At December 31, 2005 7:06 AM,
Jason Salas said…
Hey Chaim,
Thanks for your thoughts. My take on the use of Java on the Web in the capacity for which it was intended - applets - died several years ago. People just got tired of waiting, spothe plus factor for specialized functionality went to ActiveX controls, which are now threatened by AJAX. JSPs and servlets cater to the web application side of things, but Java itself isn't on the web in a mainstream format.
I do agree with the statement in the article I linked to that ActionScript has matured to the point of it being easy to code directly, but powerfule enough to go beyond aesthetic things, like I/O, forms processing and working with XML.
Look at Cold Fusion...it's rarely around anymore. It's like Macromedia bought it just to kill it off.
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