[Q] Ajax...

[CyanBlue]

I am always curious but never had a chance to dig into it...

What is the stuff that AJAX can do but Flash cannot do in the perspective of Flash developer and/or JavaScript developer???

[Paerez]

ajax is good because:
1) Javascript + XML is faster than flash
2) No need to download flash
3) penetration rate is higher for js than flash (see 2)

flash is good because:
1) vector animation (prettier!)
2) cross-platform thanks to the flash player (ajax must be re-written for every browser, yeah it sucks)

end my $0.02

[jsebrech]

Are you sure that flash 8's actionscript is slower than javascript? The only performance comparison I could find was for flash 6, which has little bearing on the modern day situation.

[MichaelxxOA]

I can understand how there would be a speed benefit, but that's at the loss of what? All of the power, functionality and design possibilities that Flash has to offer.

As far as what Javascript is capable of that Flash is not, I think it has more to do with language specifics than anything else, like how Javascript has decent XML support, and such.

There is nothing (HUGE) that AJAX is going to accomplish that Flash will not.

With that being said I still suggest learning it, as it opens your eyes to knew way of looking at application design, and can be better than flash in some situations.

It's all about necessity, if you're building a form application, does Flash make sense? Why use a technology when there is no need to leverage what it is so far ahead in, in Flash's case look and feel, and animation capabilities.

I hope that makes sense.

-Michael

[Paerez]

I think the top two reasons Google went with AJAX over Flash for most of their apps are:
1) No dependency on Adobe/Macromedia
2) No need for people to download player / upgrade player, javascript is just in the browser.

[jsebrech]

They didn't go with ajax over flash. Google finance uses flash. I think that they let their teams decide individually on what tech to build, and some teams have more affinity with one or the other.

It comes down to using the right tech for the job.

[Ruben]

Originally Posted by Paerez

ajax must be re-written for every browser, yeah it sucks

..hell yeah that sucks, dang.. You mean rewritten as in completely rewritten, or as in made crossbrowser like you have to do with any piece of javascript you implement into your site?

- Ruben

[MichaelxxOA]

Ajax doesn't have to be re-written for every browser. If the right precautions are taken you can develop ajax applications that will work on just as many browsers as Flash.

Michael

[Ruben]

..thanks for clearing that out Micheal, the refrigerator and $50 bucks bonus go to you..

- Ruben

[MichaelxxOA]

Ruben, are you getting smart with me?

jk

I don't get what you said though, lol.

Michael