RE: [flexcoders] AJAX versus Flex

[Stacy Young]

Personally I’m not expecting flex to overcome ajax in terms of market share for one simple reason. Ajax can accommodate a large proportion of developers needs. That’s not a bad thing, just a reality. Not everyone will need the kind of firepower that flex can deliver. I do believe though that we’ll see solid penetration into the enterprise scene.   We should also be aware of the impact of flash video. Its use is skyrocketing right now …and anywhere you have the flash player for video you open a door to flex technologies. With this in mind I’m thinking the second segment we’ll see penetration is in public commerce sites. Look at Nike for example, heavy reliance on flash …and now they’re moving into application development with the new deal with Apple and the ipod. Adoption here may take some time as flash player penetration is a factor.   Apple may have 5% share but if you purchased stock a few years back you’d be doing quite well today. Secondly there’s plenty of room for them to grow …one could argue that’s a safer position then having to defend an already existing empire.   Lastly, growth of Ajax will have a residual positive effect for flex technologies as it validates the idea that we need to make more experience-centric applications.   Cheers, Stace     From: flexcoders@yahoogroups.com [mailto:flexcoders@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of jwc_wensan Sent: Thursday, May 25, 2006 11:47 AM To: flexcoders@yahoogroups.com Subject: [flexcoders] AJAX versus Flex   To all: Got this email today, http://ajax.sys-con.com/ and it got me to thinking. I may get blasted for this, but here goes . . . just my .0199 cents. Let me first say I believe 100% that the Flex platform is a better "mousetrap".  I am currently developing applications with Flex.  I prefer Flex. However, you can not open a software magazine, newsletter, journal, article, etc. that doesn't reference something about AJAX.  It's everywhere.  Adobe's Flex gets an "honorable mention". I have been in the software business for over 27 years.  I have seen many companies come and go that had a better "mousetrap".  I also realize that most end users do not care if a desktop app is developed with Visual C++ or Visual Basic.  So why would they care what a RIA app is developed with.  Probably not. In the end it is the application not the engine. There seems to be a parallel between PCs with Windows and Apple/Macs.  Many believe that the Mac is better, but Apple/Mac has less the 5% of the market. Can Adobe accept 5% market share? You also can not under estimate the impact when Microsoft releases Atlas.  And no Robert I don't want to hear about how you hate MS or the evil empire.  Fact is, tens of thousands of developers will and I say will use their product. What this also does is make it more difficult for developers to convince management that the Flex product is better.  Especially when all they hear is AJAX this and AJAX that. AJAX is getting all the hype.  Right or wrong these are the facts.  They have essentially taken over the RIA landscape and claimed it as their own. My point . . . . Adobe you need to step up to the plate.  If you think you can wait, then by the time you start you will be too far behind.  You will be left behind always playing catch-up.  If you want to reach that 1 million developer goal, it needs to start now. To be better and say you are better is not enough.  If the industry has already declared AJAX as the RIA industry leader then it becomes too late. >From a market perception, look how AJAX has evolved in the last year.  Compare that to Adobe Flex.  Adobe you are asking developers to make a commitment to you, well I think you need to increase your commitment to us. Now is the time to promote to the industry and the general public as a whole about the value of Flex. Again, just my opinion. Sincerely, Jack AVIS IMPORTANT WARNING Ce message électronique et ses pièces jointes peuvent contenir des renseignements confidentiels, exclusifs ou légalement privilégiés destinés au seul usage du destinataire visé. L'expéditeur original ne renonce à aucun privilège ou à aucun autre droit si le présent message a été transmis involontairement ou s'il est retransmis sans son autorisation. Si vous n'êtes pas le destinataire visé du présent message ou si vous l'avez reçu par erreur, veuillez cesser immédiatement de le lire et le supprimer, ainsi que toutes ses pièces jointes, de votre système. La lecture, la distribution, la copie ou tout autre usage du présent message ou de ses pièces jointes par des personnes autres que le destinataire visé ne sont pas autorisés et pourraient être illégaux. 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