This is from an internal evaluation of AJAX platforms in 2006, for the purpose of selecting a platform for a small startup to use to develop a consumer-facing graphical application.

1. RIA Platform
Comparison
Oliver Steele
April 6, 2007

2. Client Platforms
HTML Flash 8 Flash 9 WPF/E

3. Client Platform Libraries
Rico, Mochi, Dojo,
Backbase,
etc.
JQuery
Plugins
Widget & Effect
Script- Inter-
Libraries Ext
aculous face Open-
Flex WPF
Laszlo
DOM Prototype YUI JQuery
Libraries
WPF/
DHTML Flash
VM E

4. Under Consideration
JQuery Laszlo Laszlo Flex WPF
HTML Flash 8 Flash 9 WPF/E

5. HTML vs. Flash
HTML Flash (Flex and Laszlo)
• Quick startup • Vector graphics
• Easy to debug • Smoother animation
• Easy to integrate
• High-quality text
Flash (non-Laszlo)
• Market acceptance
• Image effects
• Code libraries
• Code libraries

6. Assumptions
• Consumer-facing website
• Goal is to get first version up quickly
• We can switch technologies later
• Small team

7. Client Platform Features
Development Deployment Experience
• Development tools • Market acceptance • Startup time
• Community resources • Page size • Interaction speed
• Platform momentum • Page integration • Graphic effects
• Text quality

8. Development Features
Tools Resources Momentum
• Compiler • Libraries • Maturity
• Debugger • Forums • Staffing
• Server integration • Source • Community

9. Development Tools
JQuery Laszlo Flex
Compiler Debugger Server Integration

10. Development Resources
JQuery Laszlo Flex
Libraries Forums Source

11. Platform Momentum
JQuery Laszlo Flex
Maturity Staffing Community

12. Platform Features
JQuery Laszlo Flex
Tools Resources Momentum

13. Platform Features
Tools Resources Momentum

14. Deployment Features
• Market Acceptance
• Page Size
• Page Integration

15. Deployment Features
HTML Flash 7 Flash 8
Market Acceptance Page Size Page Integration

16. Deployment Features
Market Acceptance Page Size Page Integration

17. Experience
• Startup time
• Interaction speed
• Graphic effects
• Text quality

18. Graphic Effects
HTML Flash 8 Flash 9
Animation ✔ ✔ ✔
Opacity ✔ ✔ ✔
Scaling ✔ ✔ ✔
Vector Graphics ✘ ✔ ✔
Rotation ✘ ✔ ✔
Shadow ✘ ✘ ✔
Emboss ✘ ✘ ✔
Perspective ✘ ✘ ✘

19. Experience Features
HTML Flash 8 Flash 9
Startup time Animation Speed Text Quality Graphic Effects

20. Experience Features
Startup time Animation Speed Text Quality
Graphic Effects

21. Platform Benefits
HTML Laszlo/Flash 8 Flex/Flash 9
Development Deployment Experience

22. Platform Benefits
Development Deployment Experience

23. Some Tradeoffs
• Graphics (Flash) vs. Text (HTML)
• Startup time (HTML) vs. post-startup
experience (Flash)
• Development speed (HTML) vs. post-startup
experience (Flash)