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Comparing RIA technologies

 
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Hello,
I know that AJAX can help user feel their web browsing more smoothly by just loading the necessary data instead of a full page like a traditional request-response HTTP transaction. In AJAX, we use Java Script for the scripting, right? Can you tell me the advantages of AJAX over Flash or Java Applet? Because using Flash or Java Applet, we can also just load the necessary data. Is the reason that more browsers support Java Script than Flash or Java Applet?

Thank you
[Editted to provide meaningful subject line]
[ July 13, 2006: Message edited by: David O'Meara ]
 
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Hi Tri

I'm a big fan of using Flash with XML and try to use it wherever possible. I don't necessary think that the Ajax approach is better than using Flash, it just offers an alternative approach. However, I can think of a couple of situations where Ajax may be more appropriate in a Web application.

Ajax uses JavaScript to work with XML content. If there is a need to include an XSLT transformation on the client side, you can do this with JavaScript. This is not possible in Flash. In Flash, transformations must be performed on the server. Of course, the JavaScript to apply transformations differs between IE and Mozilla and Opera 8 and below can't apply transformations at all.

The other issue with Flash is that the user has to have the Flash Player plugin installed in their Web browser. Nothing is required for Ajax although JavaScript has to be enabled. In situations where you can't guarantee the Flash Player, Ajax provides a non-plugin alternative. This might not be such an issue though if you look at the player penetration statistics at http://www.adobe.com/products/player_census/flashplayer/version_penetration.html

I can't comment about Java Applets as I'm not a Java developer.

Cheers

Sas Jacobs
 
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Java Applets are rarely used today except in giving 3D userface and some web applet chats.

While Flash plugins can be automatically downloaded and installed by the browser, the applet cannot.

The end users must already have installed JVM.

In my opinions, why AJAX can probably be over flash and java applet,it can extends its funtionalites as much as you like. No limit!

I mean,the page loads ajax js as much as it requires. Then reload it again when it's needed. If no need or no interaction from the users,it takes no actions.

The main benefit is if we use AJAX, we can make our site synchronous.
The good examples are Google Mail, Google Reader,Google Page Creator and Yahoo Live Search Beta.

Now you can implement Ajax in flash, which is called AFAX ::




AFLAX (Wikipedia Entry) stands for Asynchronous Flash and XML. Defined simply, AFLAX is a development methodology which combines Ajax and Flash to create more dynamic web based applications.

Developed by Paul Colton, the AFLAX technology is available as a library that enables developers to use JavaScript to fully utilize all of the features of Adobe's Flash runtime -- including graphics, networking, video and camera support.

http://www.aflax.org/



You can study some of good AJAX sites at ::


http://www.ajaxian.com/

http://www.ajaxblog.com/

http://www.fiftyfoureleven.com/resources/programming/xmlhttprequest/examples

http://backbase.com
Its like the normal win app on the web using AJAX.

http://zerobase.jp/blog/entry-275.html
You can edit the their sites using AJAX

Google suggest is the latest real time search engine as you type.
http://www.google.com/webhp?complete=1&hl=en

Here is the IME ( input method editor for japanese)
http://chasen.org/~taku/software/ajax/ime/

Here is Handwriting pad using AJAX
http://chasen.org/~taku/software/ajax/hwr/

Here is post code to address programm, its really work (by typing 7 characters )
http://ajasql.org/sample/0/sample.htm

here is the other ajax site from eSkiSo.
www.ajaxwrite.com
 
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Java Applets are rarely used today except in giving 3D userface and some web applet chats.



Perhaps so, but one of our clients has requested migration to Applets from JSP because, all factors considered, it may give performance benefit as per their analysis.
 
Tri Dang
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Wow!
Thanks for all the replies. I think I should get started with AJAX now! But how about the disadvantages of AJAX? Can you tell me some situations where using Flash or Java Applet is more approriate than AJAX (or we can't use AJAX at all)?

Thanks again
 
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