Flex as Web Portals

Ajax is a revolutionary programming technique that is not exempted from competition in terms of developing RIA. Although Ajax is virtually an open source programming technique there are licensed alternatives that could be used by developers to provide the same, client-side interaction with a few deviation.

One of those competitors is Flex. Developed by Adobe, this type of client side application use the powerful Flash that should be installed in the local to properly implement online applications.

This type of programming technique uses Flash, HTML and different data mark-up tools. Although it is almost the same compared to Ajax, the required download of Flash makes it a different type of client side programming technique.

But Flex is not only about developing powerful online applications with the help of Flash. They are also coming out with a web portal so that applications could be more efficient in executing applications. Basically this web portal will be used to implement online applications.

This is different from browsers since it will be geared towards applications specifically made to run in the web portal. The best part of Flex is that it will be able to handle more than just simple functions. Multi-media use of Flash (e.g. YouTube) has been proven to be very effective and that means entertainment based application could be used in the web portal.

Advantages of Flex

Better Environment for Online Applications – the power of an Ajax based application is based on the efficient use of the browser. But time and time again, it has been proven that the browser could be lacking in services for Ajax.

The web portal for Flash tries to improve that experience by dedicating its functions on online applications. Instead of dwelling on additional functions for a browser, it becomes a powerful portal for online applications only.

Reusable Codes – The small Flex applications developed for Flex is called Flex modules. The codes that are being used in Flex modules could still be reused on other functions. Since Flex provides a universal platform for online applications (at least in Flash online applications), the codes could be easily applied to other Flex modules.

Additional Platforms Available – In an effort to allow Ajax based developers use the web portal, the Flex web portal could be used with ASP.Net. Instead of using an Ajax based application straight to the web portal, developers have to use the framework of ASP.Net so that they would be able to inject an Ajax based application in the web portal.

However, this is only limited to data capture and the full implementation will still be based on portlets written in Flex.

Better Web Services – This is the ultimate goal of Flex web portal. With the help of web portal dedicated to online applications. Developers could build applications that could be easily rendered in the client side.

If the web portal of Flex could become the standard for online application rendering, Ajax developers would eventually have to adopt Flex as an alternate technology. The web portal of Flex is very promising as it could provide services specifically geared to the increasing need of efficient handler of online applications.