RIA Platform Comparison

Oliver SteeleApril 6, 2007

Client Platforms

HTML Flash 8 Flash 9 WPF/E

Client Platform Libraries

DHTML

Open-Laszlo

Flex

Prototype JQueryYUI

Script-aculous

ExtInter-face

DOM Libraries

Widget & Effect Libraries

VMFlash

WPF

WPF/E

Rico, Mochi, Dojo, Backbase,

etc.JQuery Plugins

Under Consideration

HTML Flash 8 Flash 9

JQuery Laszlo FlexLaszlo WPF

WPF/E

HTML vs. FlashHTML Flash (Flex and Laszlo)

• Quick startup

• Easy to debug

• Easy to integrate

• High-quality text

• Market acceptance

• Code libraries

• Vector graphics

• Smoother animation

Flash (non-Laszlo)

• Image effects

• Code libraries

Assumptions

• Consumer-facing website

• Goal is to get first version up quickly

• We can switch technologies later

• Small team

Client Platform Features

• Startup time

• Interaction speed

• Graphic effects

• Text quality

• Development tools

• Community resources

• Platform momentum

ExperienceDeploymentDevelopment

• Market acceptance

• Page size

• Page integration

Development Features

• Compiler

• Debugger

• Server integration

Tools

• Libraries

• Forums

• Source

Resources

• Maturity

• Staffing

• Community

Momentum

Development Tools

Compiler Debugger Server Integration

JQuery Laszlo Flex

Development Resources

Libraries Forums Source

JQuery Laszlo Flex

Platform Momentum

Maturity Staffing Community

JQuery Laszlo Flex

Platform Features

Tools Resources Momentum

JQuery Laszlo Flex

Platform FeaturesTools Resources Momentum

• Market Acceptance

• Page Size

• Page Integration

Deployment Features

Deployment Features

Market Acceptance Page Size Page Integration

HTML Flash 7 Flash 8

Deployment FeaturesMarket Acceptance Page Size Page Integration

Experience

• Startup time

• Interaction speed

• Graphic effects

• Text quality

Graphic EffectsHTML Flash 8 Flash 9

Animation ✔ ✔ ✔Opacity ✔ ✔ ✔Scaling ✔ ✔ ✔

Vector Graphics ✘ ✔ ✔Rotation ✘ ✔ ✔Shadow ✘ ✘ ✔Emboss ✘ ✘ ✔

Perspective ✘ ✘ ✘

Experience Features

Startup time Animation Speed Text Quality Graphic Effects

HTML Flash 8 Flash 9

Experience FeaturesStartup time Animation Speed Text QualityGraphic Effects

Platform Benefits

Development Deployment Experience

HTML Laszlo/Flash 8 Flex/Flash 9

Platform BenefitsDevelopment Deployment Experience

Some Tradeoffs

• Graphics (Flash) vs. Text (HTML)

• Startup time (HTML) vs. post-startup experience (Flash)

• Development speed (HTML) vs. post-startup experience (Flash)