Flash VS Java

[Bill Thompson]

What are the advantages and disadvantages of Flash VS. Java? I know you can distribute java without a license, right?

Let me ask a different question. Do all browsers these days come with Java and Flash drivers by default, or do you still have to download them as plug-ins or components?

 

[Dark Jaguar]

A lot of them come with Flash, not all with Java.

They are really two different things though. Java isn't just "webbernets", it's a platform for running applications on a computer. Flash is basically cartoons, though they can be made into some cute programs no one really takes it seriously.

For more technical information, try wikipedia.

 

[Upchurch]

Flash is basically cartoons, though they can be made into some cute programs no one really takes it seriously.

My. What an uninformed statement.

 

[JamesM]

There does seem to be resistance to downloading Java among some people, which is a bit of a barrier to deploying applets. The fact is, the Java Runtime Environment is currently much bigger than Flash (i.e. on the order of ~10MB vs ~1MB). Do most people really worry about a 10 MB download? That's the perception, at any rate. And then you may have to worry about which version of the JRE your end users have.

On the other hand, if you're deploying to an intranet and can control, you can use things like Java Web Start to make life easier.

On yet another hand, Java applets nearly always look crummier than Flash stuff. On a further hand, if your app is sufficiently complex, Java is a better idea than Flash. On an additional hand, there's probably a limit to how complicated an app you want to make an applet out of, so that might not be an issue.

 

[ohp]

What are the advantages and disadvantages of Flash VS. Java? I know you can distribute java without a license, right?

Let me ask a different question. Do all browsers these days come with Java and Flash drivers by default, or do you still have to download them as plug-ins or components?

What is it that you want to achieve? This might make it easier for people to suggest something.

 

[The_Fire]

Flash isn't just "Cute animations". It comes with a build-in programming language called Actionscript. Actionscript looks a lot like Javascript.

In the newer versions, flash also have direct connection with PHP which makes it possible, and fairly easy, to communicate with a database backend. On the older version it took a bit of messing about to make it work.

The biggest drawback I can see with flash is the fact that in order to develop your applications to the max capability, you'll probably need to invest in Adobe/Macromedias Flash 8 Professional development software. If you have the Studio 8 package, it's already included.

Java, on the other hand, is pure programming language. And, as someone else have already said, interfaces looks better in flash, mainly due to the fact that you can develop the skin in eg. Photoshop and then import it directly into the staging area of the Flash development program.

ETA: A website developed solely on flash: http://video.movies.go.com/hitchhikersguide/