Flex vs. Laszlo redux
I’ve been asked to provide an opinion on which way my company should lean when recommending a development/deployment platform for clients wishing to host Rich Internet Applications (RIA), and frankly, I don’t know.
After Laszlo Systems released its Laszlo Presentation Server platform into the open-source community and Macromedia subsequently introduced a free non-commercial license for Flex last year, there was a lot of discussion about which platform people would line up behind when choosing a rich-app platform. I was gung-ho to try them both at the time, but as I’ve had neither the need nor the opportunity to delve too deeply, I quickly put it aside. Perhaps for the better.
This gives me the opportunity to see, now that the dust has settled somewhat on the debate, which platform (Laszlo, Flex or some unforeseen third) people have actually chosen and why. I confess I tend to lean toward open-source alternatives when given the choice (thus, Laszlo has a slight advantage in my heart already), but I’m also usually impressed with Macromedia’s quality and support for its products (regardless of the whole Flash Player/Yahoo Toolbar thing), and I’ve used ActionScript a lot more often than JavaScript in the past two years.
So what does everyone else think? Have you tried Flex? Or Laszlo? Which would you recommend to the Flash/Java/Perl/PHP/Web programmer who hasn’t tried either? Or to the company exec who will need new employees to use whichever platform she chooses? Your comments are welcome and appreciated!
— Vito
Screw it, I’m going to let you pick the winner…
The submission window has closed on our first ActionScript Poetry contest, and I have to say I’m impressed with the entries! I was planning on quickly picking my favorite and posting the results by now, but after reviewing the “poems,” I figured I could use some help.
So rather than leave the task to Turdhead.com’s esteemed Literary Review Board (i.e., me), we’ve decided to let you, our loyal readers, have a say in who should win the coveted “ActionScript Jabberwocky T-shirt.”
Judging should be based on several factors, including public reaction to the poem (as noted in comments here), its poetic appeal, creativity and the ungodly whims of you, our loyal readers (and perhaps a few of you disloyal ones, as well). Extra credit might be given if the “poem” actually does something in ActionScript.
Keep in mind, the code itself should become the poetry. The purpose of the contest is to basically “translate” poetry into Macromedia’s ActionScript programming language. When voting, try to focus on originality, cleverness and — perhaps above all — the poet’s ability to capture the essence of the original poem in the scripted language. (Of course, feel free to vote just because you happen to like one!).
You can check out all the great entries in this year’s contest, then return here to vote on your favorite entry! The voting begins today, World Poetry Day, and ends April 15, National Send-Your-Money-To-Washington Day!
Remember: this is a democracy, so vote early, and vote often! We’re not going to bother checking whether anyone tries to “stuff the ballot box,” but we kinda hope you’ll keep it fair.
Final results will be posted and a lavish ceremony conducted shortly after Tax Day (the winner, of course, will not be invited to this ceremony, however, so don’t get your hopes up)!
Thanks, and congratulations to all this year’s entrants! You did great.
Feel free to use the comments area to plead your case to the judges!
[Note: I'll add the voting booth to the original post as well, so you don't actually have to return here. ]
ActionScript poetry contest entries due by Monday
This weekend is your last chance to pen your winning entry in the First Annual ActionScript Poetry contest.
We’ve seen several entries so far, but we’re hoping for more. If you’d like to take a stab at winning the contest (and the T-shirt), be sure to submit your poems here by midnight (EST) on March 21 (World Poetry Day).
The better the participation, the better chance we have of making this an annual affair (with bigger, better prizes). So grab your favorite editor and have at it!.
For details (and to submit poems), click here. Thanks!
Turdhead’s going to FlashForward 2005
The FlashForward 2005 conference in San Francisco will mark two firsts for me: It will be the first Flash-oriented conference I’ve attended since I took up the sport several years ago, and it will be the first time I’ve set foot in San Francisco (Any tourist suggestions?).
While we won’t be talking, selling, showing or presenting anything, the entire staff of Turdhead (i.e., moi) will be present in full force. Look for a guy in the ActionScript Jabberwocky T-shirt.
<SalesPitch> Or better yet, get your own AS Jabberwocky shirt in time for the big event! </SalesPitch>
Only 10 more days to submit your ActionScript poetry
The entries in the recently announced ActionScript Poetry contest have been great so far, but we’re hoping to get plenty more. If you’d like to take a stab at winning the contest (and the T-shirt), be sure to submit your poems here by midnight (EST) on March 21 (World Poetry Day).
We’re hoping to create as much interest as possible in this contest, and the better the participation, the better chance we have of making this an annual affair (with bigger, better prizes). So grab your favorite editor and have at it!.
For details (and to submit poems), click here. Thanks!