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Alternatives to Java and C# for Client-Side Imaging?
SkyLeach asks: "I work for a medical company which wants to provide medical imaging solutions to their clients without having to install software on the clients' machines. We had been using Java, but this is becoming more and more difficult as the Microsoft VM becomes more outdated. According to this FAQ from Microsoft, java will receive no more support at all in the future. Without using a Windows-only solution such as ActiveX, what other options are there? Keep in mind that the only absolute requirement I have been given is that the physicians never be required to install anything on their computers: Sun's JVM and Microsoft .NET, included."
Is this a web app? I am assuming so since you are talking about ActiveX.
Looks like your up a creek without a paddle. The only other option is dynamically created images into HTML pages. Possibly using some DHTML or such for some minor interactivity. If this is not acceptable, then you will simply have to be honest and state that it is nearly impossible to do this job without requiring the user to install SOMETHING. One good note however, is that I believe Microsoft is required to distrobute the SUN JVM (at some point, barring their usual delay tactics), instead of their own, but SUN now makes it so easy to install with 1 click, why is it such a pain? Just direct your users here: java.sun.com/getjava
one click, BAM (barring any rights or security issues)
Check it out
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Has a solution that is platform independent and will run over the web, it's called IntraWeb and it comes with Delphi 7 Enterprise and Architect. My company is currently using it to create a web based interface for our Policy Management System, we're an insurance company (not an agency). The full version of IntraWeb (available from AtoZedsoftware.com) is also CLX compatable so it can be hosted on a Linux server and developed under Kylix.
Meddle thou not in the affairs of Dragons, for thou art crunchy and with most anything.
There are pure java X servers available (that will even run in IE using the default ms vm).
I've never use it, but here it is
One could make a webpage which embeds the X server applet and automatically connects it to a machine which does the actual work.
Seems like the best of both worlds to me.
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If by "don't want to install anything" you mean that you don't want your users to install anything, I'd suggest DeployDirector from Sitraka (www.sitraka.com) as an alternative to Web Start. Like Web Start, DeployDirector will install the client-side application (not applet), install correct version of the JRE, and ensure that the application keeps itself updated. However, with DeployDirector you don't have to have the intial step of installing Web Start. Everything is managed centrally, and DeployDirector will allow you to monitor the application, alert you in the event of an error, rollback, etc. Your users can be completely non-technical -- the tool will even work in a lockdown environment.
If, however, you mean that for security reasons nothing can exist on the client machine, you'll need to go with a wholly web-based (i.e., no applets) solution. You will need to dynamically generate images and image maps. This, however, will result in a huge number of server round-trips and will consequently result in some potentially crappy performance. You may have some options with Droplets -- which are remote GUIs -- but I don't know much if they can do this kind of imaging, and you'll still have higher server roundtrips.
If you can allow something to exist on the user's desktop, you should consider using an actual application -- there are tools to manage getting everything installed correctly without any user intervention, and the performance will be much better than running the whole thing in the browser. Because you already use an applet, it will probably be easier for you to port to a Java application.
I can spell. I just can't type.
Disclaimer: this is a commercial product made by the company I work for.
http://www.sitraka.com/software/deploydirector/
DeployDirector will deploy client-side Java apps through a browser exactly how you need it to. It deploys full apps, not applets. It will use the browser's VM, any version, to bootstrap the installation of another, better JRE on the system, install the whole app, everything.
It's similar to Java Web Start, but we began before Web Start and are a much more complete, industrial-strength solution. Check the web site for the obligitory customer success stories.
Yes, it costs money. Try using plain Web Start for a while and you'll see why - it's worth it. You can evaluate it for free though.
What not create a Flash application? The Flash Player plugin is available for Windows, Pocket PC, Mac OS 9, Mac OS X, Linux, Symbian, some Palm OS devices, and DoCoMo just announced yesterday that their new i-mode phones will include Flash.
Windows, IE, AOL, and Netscape have bundled the Flash Player for a long time, so chances are good that your users will not need to download anything.
cpeterso