Flash 8 Revolutionary?

There is a ton of hype going around about how Flash 8 is really going to revolutionize the web. This is just nonsense. Don't get me wrong, the new version of Flash is extremely cool and exciting when it comes to visual effects. The new version of Flash has some really amazing things--like support for real-time filters and VP6 video--but, once again, Macromedia has almost completely ignored developers with the latest Flash release. As I have said in the past, Macromedia is a very designer centric company. They have a great tool with a ton of potential; however, until they realize that developers make the applications people use, not designers, Flash is going to continue to be used soley for banner ads and frilly web sites. It really amazes me that after the big push with Central to get Flash on the desktop and the big push with Flex to get developers using Flash, Macromedia is still failing to give developers what they need to be successful. Here are some questions I have for Macromedia:

1) Why is there still zero support for any of the WS-* specifications? At the very least they could add some web service security support. This is just not acceptable. Macromedia is trying to claim that Flash is the perfect solution for these next generation smart clients, but then they fail to support the standards that are being built specifically for next generation smart clients. In all of the release notes, I see zero mention of any additional webservice support whatsoever. This is quite a different story in both the Java and .NET community, where everyone realizes this is an extremely important area.

2) Why is Javascript still the only language supported by Flash? If the Xamlon guys can manage to shimmy C#/VB.NET/Java support into the current flash bytecode model, Macromedia sure as hell could support other languages. They don't even have to build the compilers or change their bytecode model at all, just give the option to code-behind in a .NET DLL, it really can't be all that difficult.

3) Why is there still no Visual Studio support from Macromedia for application development with Flash? Microsoft makes it easy as hell to integrate with their IDE.

4) If Macromedia is not going to integrate with Visual Studio, when are they going to provide a similar tool for application developers? And don't tell me that tool is Flash, because Flash isn't anything like Visual Studio. Yes, Flash is a great tool for creating banner ads and movie sites, but developers don't create applications with sprites and movie clips, they create them with components and controls. Both the ASP.NET designers and the Windows control designers are light years ahead of anything Macromedia has to offer (hell, even Visual Studio 6 was light years ahead of the current Flash IDE as far as application development is concerned). Its time for Macomedia to realize this and build some first class component/application support into Flash or provide an alternative IDE with those features.

Don't tell me that tool is "Flex Builder" either. Flex is a joke. No one uses Flex. Flex has a ton of potential, but Macromedia has somehow managed to turn what could be an insanely popular and insanely useful tool into a huge blunder. The current version of Flex is just Generator Reloaded. Generator failed and I suspect it is only a matter of time till Flex officially fails unless Macromedia gets their act together.

5) What happened to Central? Wasn't there supposed to be some huge marketing push to get the average person using Central? I haven't seen any commercials on TV. I haven't seen any magazine ads. I doubt anyone I associate with outside of our industry even knows it exists. Hell, I haven't even bothered to install it since it launched because Macromedia still hasn't provided me any reason to do so.

Personally, I would love to use Flash for web applications. I would love to get away from endless debugging of javascript weirdness and have a cross-browser, cross-platform solution that just works. But release after release, Macromedia keeps failing to give the support I need to make it worth my time to use their tools. So, this year I will once again be asking for a copy of the latest version of VS in my stocking instead of the latest version of Flash.

 

3 Comments

  • I thought there was a big "Forms" push in this release of flash, which would mean its is targeted at developing applications.



    Maybe I'm wrong.

  • They added the "Forms" support in version 7. It really isn't all that great. It is vastly inferior to any modern IDE's form designers.

  • Just wanted to say how much of a joke your comments about Flex were. In a year it'll be a widely-adopted standard for web application developers. Sorry, you lose. Ta!

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