Client-side MX technology
Client-side MX technology is based primarily on Macromedia Flash MX. Before we continue, we need to make a break with the old perception many people have in regards to Macromedia Flash. In the past, the most common use for Flash was the popular "skip intro" flash movie that we have all seen acting as doormats to many websites. Flash is now much more than that. Flash is a very powerful tool that can be used to create truly rich application interfaces. Imagine breaking free of the limits of HTML, DHTML, SWING, etc. and having the tools to create interfaces that are not only intuitive, but also interactive and very powerful.
So what makes Flash MX different? What is in this for the Java developer? The answer is Flash Remoting. The official definition given for Flash Remoting is that it "simplifies the Macromedia Flash application development process by providing a powerful yet simple programming model and runtime enabling Macromedia Flash MX to connect to remote services exposed by application servers and web services." What this means is that with Flash Remoting, you can now let your application server talk to a flash client with the end result of dynamic flash powered by your application server and database. So you now have a gateway to serve up dynamic Java powered Flash!
As far as availability, Macromedia Flash Remoting supports ColdFusion, JRun, .Net and Java. Flash Remoting is a native feature of both ColdFusion MX and JRun 4, and will be available for other Java servers separately at a later date.
The best way to show the type of rich user experience your Java web apps can now employ is to show some live flash powered applications. The following three examples should help show how powerful Flash MX can be:
- Broadmoor Hotel
- A live site that has pioneered the use of a rich front end is the Broadmoor hotel. The Broadmoor hotel was experiencing less then desirable user satisfaction and a high level of incomplete registrations with their on-line reservation system. After upgrading to a Flash powered user interface, the results speak for themselves.
http://reservations.broadmoor.com
- Pet Market
- The following link points to a collection of resources Macromedia has published showing Flash powered versions of the popular Java and .net Pet Store sample applications. Expect live samples by mid July.
http://www.macromedia.com/desdev/mx/blueprint/
- Trio
- Trio is a fictional motor company that Macromedia has used for series of MX demos. The Trio Service manager demo is a very powerful example of Flash MX and ColdFusion MX creating what is possibly the richest web-based user interface created to date.
http://www.macromedia.com/desdev/mx/trio/
In Conclusion
Users are tired of misleading, clunky, and boring HTML based user interfaces. The Macromedia MX initiative gives Java developers the Rapid Application Development tools to create a rich user experience. We have only touched on the very basics of both ColdFusion MX and Flash MX, but hopefully the samples provided have shown how the MX initiative can help take Java to a new level.
About the Author
Jeremy Petersen is Manager of Web Application Engineering for TeachStream, a provider of training solutions for K-12 educators, headquartered in Salt Lake City, Utah. Jeremy has been developing with Java for 2 years and with ColdFusion since version 1.5. Jeremy is a volunteer member of Team Macromedia ColdFusion, has published several technology related articles, and is currently co-authoring the upcoming ColdFusion Cookbook for O’Reilly & Associates.
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