4 thought on Adobe and Flash Platform

I am sure that Adobe’s final announcement about Flash Player plug-in for mobile browser already rocks the world.

HTML5 supporter said: “This is the sign of victory.”

Flash supporter said: “This is the new dawn of something bigger.”

Whatever everyone is discussing, I have my thought to share on this topic. Sure, I am a Flash platform consultant for 3 years so you may consider my thought to set your plan about this platform in next year, on your career, and don’t be scared, everything is better than you got from the rumor and emotional content around the web.

1. Is this the end of Flash?

I have to say straight forward: I think the era of Flash will dissolve in next 3-4 years, if nothing has changed again.

I encourage you to remind about the dawn of HTML. Think about those website in the pass, colorless, no “Flashy” interaction. Because of the limit of HTML technology in that time, Adobe Flash came out on the stage and fill the boring world of internet to more excite and engage many web user with tons of rich interactive and cross-browser compatibility.

Those things also impressed me too.

But anyway, Flash belongs to Adobe, it’s not standard (or not free to harvest). The giant IT company such as, Apple, Google, and Microsoft need to drive “the standard”, HTML, to do almost everything as possible that Flash can done. Finally, in 2011 (and with a help from Steve Jobs), HTML5 becomes the most popular topic on IT discussion.

So I am not surprise that Adobe try to change act on web solution to HTML5.

So after this time, may be start from next year, Adobe Flash will transform to client platform, as Adobe mentioned, Adobe AIR for mobile and desktop will go forward with 3D engine on Flash Player 11+. So don’t be scared, it just change the field from Flash Player on the world wide web into mobile and desktop device.

If you need more detail, feel free to read Mike Chamber’s article here.

2. What will happen to Adobe Flex?

For Adobe Flex, it is the most lovely Rich Internet Application (RIA) platform I have ever met (and you so). Because of easy to use, great tool like Flash Builder, and cross-platform feature that allows you to distribute your application into Adobe AIR and mobile application.

Sure, before the announcement, I think this is the holy grail for cross platform application development that Java should done.

But Adobe should make you confuse with this cool development platform for sure.

So Mr. Deepa, Product Manager of Adobe Flex, wrote out and answered your question here. I also brought you some interesting topic below.

Flex SDK will going forward as an open source. it will be under control of Spoon foundation. Adobe will contribute with Spoon as same as they are doing with Nitobi’s PhoneGap.
Adobe Flash Builder still be driven by Adobe to ensure it can work with next version of Spoon’s Flex SDK.
Flex SDK team will move to involve in HTML5 project. (This is quite interesting.)
Adobe will release Flex SDK 4.6 in November 29th. Before clearly direction and milestone will be announced by Spoon Foundation.

3. How about people who work and live with Flash Platform?

If you are living with Flash Platform technology (Flex, AIR, Flash). You might absolutely shocked with this news.

But in real world, without any emotional speaking and discussion, I think this change would not effect you too much.

HTML5/Javascript/CSS shares similar architecture with MXML/Actionscript/CSS in Adobe Flex and Adobe Flash. After experienced with myself, I found just little difficult to migrate your knowledge and skill to these new standard.
Almost Adobe’s HTML5 tools built upon Flash platform’s concept, for example, Adobe Edge, is HTML5 Animation tools that “absolutely” improve from Adobe Flash CS. In my opinion, I like it. Who’ll know this workflow may come out in the next CS version.
Adobe AIR will be the new weapon for Adobe Flex and Adobe Flash developer (and also designer). This technology gives you ability to distribute your content on mobile platform, SmartTV platform and Desktop platform.
Adobe Flash will be stronger than HTML5 in HD Streaming, Cross-platform Mobile App, and 3D Gaming. HTML5 cannot be compared with Flash in these field.
Adobe promises to provide new feature in existing Flash Platform tools to make Flash guy work more easy to bring their skill into new web standard. You may see soon, Flash Pro that can export movie clip into HTML5 animation. You can also experience this with Wallaby, the conversion tool from Adobe Labs.

4. Should we abandon Flash and catch HTML5 now?

Just learn it first. In my opinion, HTML5/Javascript/CSS should be learned for prepare the next wave. It should not be used as the “major” part of your career (but if you already use it in your career, just skip this section )

Event HTML5 has been implemented in all (modern) web browser and mobile web browser. But those implementation is quite different. So, yes, you still have to handle “wrong” presentation in different web browser with yourself. At least, before Adobe release “holy grail” tool.
Event Adobe has released a lot of tool in beta version such as, Adobe Edge, Adobe MUSE, and Adobe Firework CSS3 Mobile Pack. But it is still not the “flag ship”. I think they are building a great things that will help us work more easier with HTML5, but not soon.
PhoneGap and JQuery Mobile still not archive the “acceptable” user experience in native mobile application. It’s ok that Adobe just bought PhoneGap. So It should take sometime to improve PhoneGap to work like Adobe AIR.

In conclusion, HTML5 is coming, but too far from using with no worry about changing or bloody time spending work. I guess it may took about 1-2 years for Adobe to reform their tools on HTML5.