Use the Code: WRAC11
Programming in Flash is pretty simple, you MUST use Actionscript, which is a form of ECMASCRIPT. Yawn, boring.
In Silverlight you can program with the following languages:
So, to me, Flash = BORING and lock in to a single language and a single vendor. Silverlight doesn’t force me to use a single language and allows more differentiation in coding style.
Also, in creating games the other problem is managing the whole system, for instance, Silverlight works with Visual Studio Team System with ties into Team Foundation server which ties into to project management, infrastructure simulation and operational management. That means that Silverlight is a fully integrated system from stem to stern without a break with training and certification for much of the design. Flash, well, it does one thing, pretty well.
How can this be? Silverlight can be used with any number of languages, for instance if you wanted to create a tool to work with Silverlight, let’s say Lua, then you would be able to utilize the Silverlight Dynamic Language Runtime SDK as an example on how to use the Dynamic Language Runtime (DLR). The DLR is discussed in the article: Dynamic Languages and Silverlight, so I guess if you wanted to you could create a DLR that consumes Actionscript! Now that would be cool, Actionscript working with Silverlight. Except I like VB, C# and F# better than a javascript knock off.
Looks like I am bias, go figure.
Yawn. Old post, but still have to reply with: "Do YOU really want to be stuck with a runtime that has such poor market penetration?".
I want my software to work when I send it out - I don't want to wonder if they have the right plugin installed. And when you write software for the Enterprise (99% of my customers) there is NO WAY I could get them to install a "glorified ActiveX control" on every machine and have them maintain it. No way.
And to back it up, I tried to use a small SilverLight app to use for some massive uploading requirements. Flash requires you to load the whole file into memory, unlike SilverLight where I can send it up in chunks. The backlash from EVERY customer was bad enough I'll never try it again. 2 of those companies were fortune 100 companies, 1 of them larger than Microsoft and Adobe combined.
And to say that ActionScript is THAT much different ("a javascript knock off" as you say) than C# just speaks volumes about your real-world experience with ActionScript and languages in general. I program in both AS and C# on a weekly basis, and they are so similar I sometimes find myself debugging AS code in C# and visa-versa. I use what tool is going to work best for me, and most of time it's ActionScript in the Flash runtime.
THE MORAL OF THE STORY:
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Does the customer CARE what language I used to write the app in? NOPE. Do they CARE that it runs on any box, any browser and any hardware they have? YEP.
Thanks for listening.
Flexdaddy,
You got alot of passion and I guess I didn't make a good case.
All I can say is I respect your passion and others should read what you wrote carefully.
Thank you for being passionate about what you do and saying it without any cursing.
One can only be respectful of your well written statement!