I do agree with you that Flash is not the ideal technology for document and data distribution
But, the "web" is not just a document distribution system. It is THE interface to the internet for 99% of the populace. Also, the average person does not want to have to download and install software.
The web creates an environment where you can update your software without having to have people return to your site and download the updates (or write complex self updating code). Your data can be live and people can interact with a community of individuals. There are so many benefits to writing applications in a browser. I feel like most web developers will understand this, and I am not going to go into every one of them right now.
I entered my professional life as a Client/Server C++/Oracle developer. As time went on, I realized that the browser (and consequently, the web) is a great replacement for traditional Client/Server technology. I looked into many technologies and, at the time, found that HTML and scripting languages were the only viable solutions at the time. They left me wanting more, since no longer could the interface be as dynamic and consequently it made the software harder to use than it had to be and the user suffered. I looked into Java: not enough cohesion between platforms; not enough client installs; too slow. I looked into Flash: (version 4) horriblke scripting environment; nearly impossible to incorporate dynamic data. And HTML and modern app servers improved. Now, Flash has greatly improved and with version 6, most of my concerns have been addressed. You can now actually build a piece of software in Flash that uses the browser, that most of the populace can get to and run fast, that is not limited by HTML, and therefore can present a better and more usable UI.
Also, Flash is not an animation tool anymore. It is an application developemtn environment. Building something in Flash does not mean "animation".
Of course if you are against "software on the web". Nothing I say will result in anything positive.
I hope you can read my response without feeling the need to attack me. I present an opinion that is just an opinion. I am not trying to personally attack you, just trying to get my thoughts out there.
Thanks, Nate
As the programming world changes, you must adapt or you will be left behind.
Now, my question is: Why is the Slashdot community so against Flash?
Is it because some people used it exclusivly for intros on websites? This is bad website design and bad usability. This has nothing to do with Flash except for the fact that Flash was their choice as the tool to get the work done. They could have chosen to use animated gifs or DHTML; could this make you hate those 2 technologies just as much?
Is it because it took a while for Macromedia to come out with updated Flash plugins for the Linux community? It is not Macromedia's responsibility to support every platform, but they have done so, although it took them a while.
I think you guys do not realize the abilities and opportunities of what Flash can do. Animation is 1% of its abilities. Flash is currently an object oriented programming language that supports many web standards (including WSDL, SOAP, and XML), plus can be used to build almost any interface that can be imagined. It supports dynamic graphics and also supports most webcams so you can brodcast, record and playback audio and video.
Flash is a important part of the web that will help take us to the next level of web applications. When HTML came out, users had to take a step backward from modern software programs into a very limited interface and featureset. HTML and the App Servers that dynamically generate it have come a long way, but you still have many limitations that a traditional piece of software installed on a computer has been able to do for years. Flash allows us to start build applications that use the internet's many amazing benefits, without losing everything users are used to in their other pieces of software.
Bad user interface design is a problem, but will not be solved by erradicating Flash from the internet.
I challenge you to download the trial version of Flash and look into its abilities before flaming me with your response.
We use Macromedia's Flash Communication Server and have had great luck with it in our products. You can demo it and AV Chat with your friends at http://www.userplane.com. It is called the Instant Communicator.
I have a 1600x1200 14.1" LCD in my new Dell laptop and I love it. Now I want to get a similar external screen so I can double my screen space but 1600x1200 LCD monitors are only available in the larger versions and those are extremely expensive. I got a Decked out Dell laptop for $2100 so the screen itself can't cost too much. Why doesn't anyone make a resoanbly prices monitor at that resolution? Or maybe one of you knows of one...
It is relatively easy to set up a company in the states. I don't know what the issues are using it to send you to another company, but you should look into it.
Slashdot Mirror
I do agree with you that Flash is not the ideal technology for document and data distribution
But, the "web" is not just a document distribution system. It is THE interface to the internet for 99% of the populace. Also, the average person does not want to have to download and install software.
The web creates an environment where you can update your software without having to have people return to your site and download the updates (or write complex self updating code). Your data can be live and people can interact with a community of individuals. There are so many benefits to writing applications in a browser. I feel like most web developers will understand this, and I am not going to go into every one of them right now.
I entered my professional life as a Client/Server C++/Oracle developer. As time went on, I realized that the browser (and consequently, the web) is a great replacement for traditional Client/Server technology. I looked into many technologies and, at the time, found that HTML and scripting languages were the only viable solutions at the time. They left me wanting more, since no longer could the interface be as dynamic and consequently it made the software harder to use than it had to be and the user suffered. I looked into Java: not enough cohesion between platforms; not enough client installs; too slow. I looked into Flash: (version 4) horriblke scripting environment; nearly impossible to incorporate dynamic data. And HTML and modern app servers improved. Now, Flash has greatly improved and with version 6, most of my concerns have been addressed. You can now actually build a piece of software in Flash that uses the browser, that most of the populace can get to and run fast, that is not limited by HTML, and therefore can present a better and more usable UI.
Also, Flash is not an animation tool anymore. It is an application developemtn environment. Building something in Flash does not mean "animation".
Of course if you are against "software on the web". Nothing I say will result in anything positive.
I hope you can read my response without feeling the need to attack me. I present an opinion that is just an opinion. I am not trying to personally attack you, just trying to get my thoughts out there.
Thanks,
Nate
As the programming world changes, you must adapt or you will be left behind.
Linux, Mac OS, and Windows can view 99.99% of all Flash websites by dowloading the latest version of the play available for their system at the following URL:r nates/
http://www.macromedia.com/shockwave/download/alte
Now, my question is: Why is the Slashdot community so against Flash?
Is it because some people used it exclusivly for intros on websites? This is bad website design and bad usability. This has nothing to do with Flash except for the fact that Flash was their choice as the tool to get the work done. They could have chosen to use animated gifs or DHTML; could this make you hate those 2 technologies just as much?
Is it because it took a while for Macromedia to come out with updated Flash plugins for the Linux community? It is not Macromedia's responsibility to support every platform, but they have done so, although it took them a while.
I think you guys do not realize the abilities and opportunities of what Flash can do. Animation is 1% of its abilities. Flash is currently an object oriented programming language that supports many web standards (including WSDL, SOAP, and XML), plus can be used to build almost any interface that can be imagined. It supports dynamic graphics and also supports most webcams so you can brodcast, record and playback audio and video.
Flash is a important part of the web that will help take us to the next level of web applications. When HTML came out, users had to take a step backward from modern software programs into a very limited interface and featureset. HTML and the App Servers that dynamically generate it have come a long way, but you still have many limitations that a traditional piece of software installed on a computer has been able to do for years. Flash allows us to start build applications that use the internet's many amazing benefits, without losing everything users are used to in their other pieces of software.
Bad user interface design is a problem, but will not be solved by erradicating Flash from the internet.
I challenge you to download the trial version of Flash and look into its abilities before flaming me with your response.
We use Macromedia's Flash Communication Server and have had great luck with it in our products. You can demo it and AV Chat with your friends at http://www.userplane.com. It is called the Instant Communicator.
I have a 1600x1200 14.1" LCD in my new Dell laptop and I love it. Now I want to get a similar external screen so I can double my screen space but 1600x1200 LCD monitors are only available in the larger versions and those are extremely expensive. I got a Decked out Dell laptop for $2100 so the screen itself can't cost too much. Why doesn't anyone make a resoanbly prices monitor at that resolution? Or maybe one of you knows of one...
It is relatively easy to set up a company in the states. I don't know what the issues are using it to send you to another company, but you should look into it.
This is a great posting for people that did not know what SDL was.