Adobe Flash Player v HTML5
by Derek O'Brien on June 11 2010
As an Actionscript developer I can see great potential for HTML5 especially when leveraged with Javascript to create dynamic and engaging user experience, I can easily see engaging experiences deployed through this technology set (HTML5/Javascript) that would make more sense than using the Adobe Flash platform.
That said HTML5 has a long way to go before it can deliver true cross platform experiences to the majority of the internet like Adobe Flash can now and only then can I see a reason to start considering deploying using HTML5/Javascript over Adobe Flash.
I know the HTML5 supporters can throw bucket loads of evidence of great applications that are already deployed on the internet today as reasons to deploy today, but the reach these applications have compared to an app built in Flash will not convince my clients enough that its currently viable to deploy using a technology set that just does not compare to Adobes Flash market share.
When HTML5 finally reaches 98% of the market share (which Adobe Flash Player holds today) in all browsers, then I can see good reason to switch to this new technology set, but until then no amount of persuasion (without actually lying to them) is going to convince my clients that a lower market share is a good move for their project.
When that day comes, as an Adobe Flash developer I still see no reason to panic that I will be without a job. Flash has far more higher development opportunities today then HTML5 will ever have once it becomes truly usable. I can only see Adobe pushing the Flash Player further out of the competition reach of HTML5 as time goes by due to HTML5 being a standard and the slow progress that standards have traditionally taken to move forward.
So to conclude, there will always be a need for a Flash Player plugin to provide the gap where standards can not deliver. Yes HTML5 will eventually replace some low level Flash deployment and in some cases it will be used at it’s limits to provide interesting dynamic and engaging applications, but none that will provide functionality beyond what can be deployed in Adobe Flash already today.. and with Adobe being a business they will push to meet the developers needs faster than the HTML5 standards group and will always be many steps ahead of the game.
Note: End of the day the best technology that fits the purpose should always win.. in some cases that will be HTML5.. others Flash..
