Rich Internet Application Frameworks: a Comparison of Flex, JavaFX, and Silverlight

1
Rich Internet Application Frameworks a
Comparison of Flex, JavaFX, and Silverlight

• Minseung Kim

2
Outline

• Rich Internet Application (RIA) Framework
• Motivation
• Background
• Case-Study Flex/Flash, JavaFX, and Silverlight
• Discussion
• Conclusion

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RIA Frameworks

• RIA the web application solution that
  effectively and interactively provides best user
  experience.
• e.g. minusa.com, Nike running, FootJoy A LOT!!!
  
• RIA framework the tools and environments that
  facilitate the development of RIA
• e.g. Flex, JavaFX, Silverlight, also A LOT!!!
  

(miniusa.com)
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Motivation

• What is the best RIA framework for developers and
  users?
• What aspects should be improved and considered
  over current RIA frameworks?

Flex
JavaFX
Silverlight
Who is a Winner?
5
Background

• HTML is simple and easy to learn
• But the simplicity compensates for the lack of
  interactivity
• Users want to experience as if on desktop
  computer
• What efforts we have made?

1992
1995
1996
2005
2009
2002
WWW
JavaScript
Flash
AJAX
RIA
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Three RIA Frameworks

• Flex A group of technologies that support RIA
  development over Flash platform

JavaFX Java-based rich user interface
technologies developed with Java Standard and
Micro editions
Silverlight .NET-based web-browser plugin that
enables rich interactive user experience
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Case-Study Performance
1. Counting Primes
http//www.javafx.com/samples/PrimeFactors/index.h
tml
JavaFX 0.412s
Flash/Flex 1.34s
Silverlight 0.426s
2. Bubble Animation
http//bubblemark.com
JavaFX 182fps
Flash/Flex 52fps
Silverlight 133fps
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Case-Study Richness and Availability
Richness
Availability

• Tradeoff between richness and availability
• JavaFX provides much interactive application but
  it runs outside the browser
• Flash/Flex and Silverlight are browser plugins
  but their features are limited by browser
• What gives more interactive experience between
  Flash/Flex and Silverlight? Pros and cons

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Discussion

• What aspects should be improved and considered
  over current RIA frameworks?
• Standardization
• e.g. AJAX libraries
• Personalization
• Customers begin to demand the products that meet
  their needs
• e.g. BMW mini website
• 3D
• Can provide more enhanced user experience
• e.g. virtual worlds, navigational systems

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Conclusion

• Each RIA framework has its own strengths and
  weaknesses
• No best solution at this point
• Tradeoff between richness and availability
• e.g. JavaFX vs. Flex/Flash
• Standardization, personalization, and 3D are key
  aspects to be improved and considered for the
  future of RIA