Okay, don't know if there are any web developers on here, but worth a go. Basically I'm a desktop/server application developer in Microsoft technologies/languages (C++ and C# primarily). I've been tasked with an R&D project to find the best web technology to create an RIA (a rich browser based application). So my choices are Java, Flash, Silverlight, HTML5, Ruby On Rails, etc etc. So I have no experience in web development, and have been assigned the job of making the correct selection. Anyone on here have any thoughts/experience in such? As a side point, my initial work has taken me down the Microsoft route (for obvious reasons) - so I'm looking at Silverlight development within Expression Blend (and Sketchflow) and Visual Studio 2010. Anyone know if there are any intensive courses on this in Dublin? Thanks
For starters,. I can elaborate more later. But I would go with HTML 5 when done correctly the websites are spectacular. http://www.thekillersmusic.com/html5 Have a look at that. HTML 5 is defo the future.
Yeah, been looking at HTML5 (see http://www.html5rocks.com/ as well). The only thing that's putting me off is articles like this - http://johnliu.net/blog/2010/11/2/silverlight-is-for-business-apps-html5-is-for-flash.html. From my research so far HTML5 seems to have a decent adoption rate (mainly due to cross-platform compatibility) but is still somewhat fledgling and also appears more for developing a multimedia site (etc) than a business application (apologies, I should have been specific in my OP - that's what we are talking about here, not just a company site etc). Plus the combination of HTML, JS and CSS seems like there will be a heavy learning curve! It does seem fantastic, I just need to figure out if it's fit for our requirements (and the possible longevity of the technology). That's where Silverlight is becoming difficult - it's future is uncertain, so I'm unsure if it's a viable option (http://www.scottlogic.co.uk/blog/colin/2010/11/does-html5-mean-the-end-is-in-sight-for-silverlight/). I'd love to know Microsofts long term plan for Silverlight as having played with Sketchflow for a few hours, and seeing a bit of Blend, it's a lovely process (developers becoming designers, and vice versa).
That bit in bold makes more sense now It all depends on your needs, there are platforms that can cater for almost anything. I presume the content may be of a sensitive nature, I'm sure you have to be SOX compliant, and can't give too much away. But if you can delve into more detail. We can try get a feel of where you need to go.
This isn't necessarily being approached from a specific application concept/prototype perspective - it's general research into what is the best web technology to build a cross-platform RIA. So it would need to support all manner of modern/funky user controls ("wow factor"), support advanced graphing/trending, document (PDF) support, server connectivity may be required (connecting to a server application via Sockets/TCP-IP), etc. The choice though has to be something viewed as a long-term solution (ie. the technology won't be deprecated in a short while), while also working across multiple platforms (including mobile if possible). I must also take into consideration what technologies we currently use, and can some of those applications be moved to the new technology choice (eg C#.Net applications being ported over, and/or C# DLL's being called from a Web front end (?)) - and all this while prefereably streamlining what tech we use thus considering long term - people, training, resources, costs etc. I know that's terribly generic, but that's the task in a nutshell. Should be a cake walk......
Frank, Very hard to give a recommendation on your description. But you know that If you wanna go the Java route then I recommend Core Spring/Spring Webflow/JSF/Ajax. But there would be a large amount of training involved in this if you're currently on a .NET mindbuzz Really depends on the size of the project ect.
Just have a bit of spring cleaning to do, and some bits and pieces, then I'm yours for the evening Frank. We can bounce ideas then
I like this IT shit, don't know if I'm that advanced to get into web designing yet but that Killers website is unreal, I've never seen any site as rich as that before. Sorry for going off topic but where do you start getting into that thing, I think I need a second career as a back up plan.
For me it's really about your qualifications. If it's web design you'd be interested in doing then there's night courses you can do. It can be very expensive to do courses though. The thing about skilling yourself without certifications is the guy interviewing you for the job won't wanna give you the job if he had to get qualified and you didn't. No matter how good you are
Frank have you looked into XML at all? It has the user friendly functionality, is very adaptable, and supports almost everything. I reckon this could be an early front runner for you.
Cheers buddy - thanx for the heads up. When you say XML - yes, but what do you mean from a development language perspective, do you mean XAML in WPF/Silverlight (for example)? A desktop/server (WPF) or web (Silverlight) based application could be written solely in XAML (I think), but I reckon the design experience would be shocking So hence, in this example, Expression Blend provides the design experience (with XAML editing), while I suppose Visual Studio could be more coding (C#). I think I need to investigate HTML5 more for now, as I have a feeling Silverlight won't be a runner here.
I suppose there is two ways to get into the field - start a full college degree or take on night study. It also depends on the angle you take - do you want to be a full on software developer (a web developer), or specifically a graphic designer? Note also if you decide to go for graphic design courses some may ask you for a personal portfolio with your application. EDIT: I should say the above is based on you becoming a full time developer. If you're more into it as a hobby, then there are some helpful sites. For example with Silverlight Microsoft offer a .toolbox site to learn how to develop in it (http://www.microsoft.com/design/toolbox/). I'm sure if you google you'll find HTML5 tutorials. I'll post anything I come across of interest up here.
The power of HTML5 (for Firefox) - https://mozillademos.org/demos/flight-of-the-navigator/demo.html from https://demos.mozilla.org/en-US/#marblerun.
Don't waste your time Frank. They done this on campus in work, and I went through them for the blatant lies, and misleadingness of it all. Everyone looked on impressed and thought it was amazing, until I piped up with questions to which I got roundabout answers and had an interesting debate/argument. They spend most of the time telling you how much better IE9 is to Chrome and Firefox
Really? I watched a recorded MIX presentation online on Blend/Sketchflow and I could put something together (in Sketchflow) in a couple of hours. I was highly impressed by both the speaker and the content. I'm going to this through work - already registered. Sure it'll be a day out of the office anyway
Well in that case go for it,. We didn't get any interesting topics, just the MS is great, everyone else isn't, our software is the best, everyone else isn't, and the smack talk about Google, is very very funny. Stay Clear of the Windows Phone, Windows 7, and the IE9 sessions, they will try and tell you HTML5 only works on IE9 correctly, which is lies, as it works on Firefox and Chrome, although IE9 only works on Windows 7 pcs, whereas Chrome and Firefox work on XP and Vista whilst also allowing HTML5. And the computer hardware utilization of IE9 crashes your pc depending on how many windows you have open, which is a pain. Where as chrome and firefox can do this also on Windows 7, but without the crashing. I'm all for advocating Microsoft products to people but only when there is a genuine advantage. They were telling us about Windows Defender, yet we don't use it here? Do they think I'm really going to use one of their products that they do not trust themselves,lol