Flex is Java!
Filed Under (AIR, ActionScript, Flex, Java) by jonr on November-12-2008

Well, this seems like a stupid statement, but for me, “Flex is Java!”  We have heard a lot the last year about Java the platform versus Java the programming language, with the push to add scripting languages to the JVM and add extensions beyond the core programming language.

When you look at Flex you find that Data Services is built to run in a Servlet container.  The IDE is an Eclipse plug-in.  The only thing that really breaks from Java is that the client runtime is not a JVM, but Java has basically failed to ever deliver a viable client side runtime for browser-based applications.  So, why not consider Flex / Flash for this option?

That is actually where my statement comes from, as I think Sun should have started claiming, “Flex is Java” in 2007 as a marketing campaign, rather than starting their client side initiative, JavaFX.  Even if JavaFX ends up becoming a viable technical option, how will Sun ever profit from it?  I know-I know, I read Jonathan Schwartz’s blog and hear they are making money on Java, but in all seriousness… why doesn’t Sun promote things like Flex as successes of the Java platform? Is it just another case of “not built here syndrome?”

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(7) Comments    Read More

Comments:
Casper Bang on November 12th, 2008 at 8:10 am #

Few companies display such NIH attitude as Sun. It will be interesting to follow, with all the pioneers having left Sun (many for Flash/Flex stuff) and a vaporware’ish RIA technology which only seems to amount to JavaOne demos.

Eric Prennin on November 12th, 2008 at 11:23 pm #

Um… why is wanting to avoid promoting another company’s product NIH? Geez, they don’t promote Windows, either. Sun’s making some serious money with Java on PC’s and phones, I wonder what Adobe’s making with Flex/Flush.

jonr on November 12th, 2008 at 11:28 pm #

BTW. Sun does promote Ubuntu (does that count). Also, small technology companies like Microsoft aren’t afraid to do business through partnerships. Why should Sun be? Especially in a space where they have failed time and again (i.e. UI technologies). How does Sun profit from Java?

jonr on November 12th, 2008 at 11:37 pm #

http://blogs.sun.com/jonathan/entry/ubuntu_on_niagara_and_platinum

Eric Prennin on November 13th, 2008 at 8:21 am #

http://blogs.sun.com/jonathan/entry/the_value_of_distribution_java

Ubuntu’s a little toy company, Adobe’s bigger than Sun.

julien on November 19th, 2008 at 11:25 pm #

While I agree that anyone should promote Flex for it’s UI’ library, I still argue with my co workers working on the server side about Flex vs. Java. Those stiff geeks (a bit harsh I know) still think the JVM is the only thing out there and Flex is just good for ‘Flash Developers’ … I’d rather like seeing them helping me out integrate Java backends in my Flex app (well thanks to Adobe & the Flash community that was possible)

Even though I like Java, and have been further than System.out.println, I still feel like Java devs (not all but most) and Sun are too proud to admit Flex makes UI production much easier than anything Java,

Anyways, if Sun ever wants to promote Flex, I think they’d find loads of Flex developers ready to help them

ddog on March 28th, 2009 at 8:42 pm #

I have to agree. I’ve just started exploring Flex after learning to hate Java/JSP/Struts/TagLibs/servlets/Spring/
XMLadInfinitum over the last 8 years. The Java ‘platform’ quite simply is a nightmarish quagmire that I’d be happy to never have to mount again. I’m sure there are many, many other developers like myself who have become very disheartened over the years. Java used to be cool (compared to VB) but now it just sucks…..

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