Saturday, March 04, 2006
IBM Approach - Open Laszlo
I have been exploring the open laszlo project.
It's another XAML/XUL-like approach to describe the presentation of a user interface layer. But isn't just another one. Why? It's build over Flash. So, it doesn't require a client installation at all... well, it obviously requires the Flash player, but Macromedia says it's installed in 98% of the internet-ready computers. I think that it turns the Flash Player the most-popular browser (browser = user interface player?). Avalon (included in Windows Vista as Windows Presentation Fundation) is following the same approach, with their own set of tools, including an animation-maker tool. XUL, impulsed by Mozzila.org, is basically the same, but built over dhtml.
I suggest you to see the lazlo on-line examples... I am sure you are ready to. So, it's great. don't you think? "Rich" web user interfaces in nowadays computers?
But now, they are thinking in moving Flash out and adding a new compiler from LZX to the Open Ajax initiative.
So, wasn't it so great?. I think this have a lot to do with the "AJAX platform war" that we are seeing today, and it's nothing but an IBM's tactical decision to impulse their Open Ajax.
I don't know which Ajax framework will finally win but there are a lot of them in the battle, supported by the bug guys.
But I am really sure that the next year, with Windows Vista released, the software industry will need a lot of cross-platforms solutions (converters, translators, abstractions, etc.) one time again.
Labels: Internet, Platform, Technology
