As web applications certainly continue to become the way of the future for programming, many within the industry are becoming more and more interested in what the top apps currently are so that they can build to suit future consumer demands.
Here are some of the top web apps currently:
1. Last.fm (Audio) This social music directory provides users with the ability to listen to full tracks online and to create custom stations around their music interests.
2. Elance.com- This freelance platform brings service providers and buyers together under one roof; web programming, web design, graphic design, editing, writing, translation, transcription, legal, engineering and sales are among their most popular categories.
3. Gmail- This communication platform is rapidly becoming the most widely used online by individuals and businesses.
4. Amazon Web Services- This web service platform powers many of the largest web services and storage companies.
5. Google Maps- As navigation systems become more mainstream, users are searching for the best available online tools. This system offers users the ability to find and print driving directions and to locate updates on things such as local traffic.
6. Flickr- In alignment with the growing popularity of social media platforms, this Yahoo format for photo and video sharing is being taken by storm by users worldwide.
7. Google Docs- For individuals and small business who are in search of an easy and free document sharing solution, Google docs is the system of choice.
Web programmers should become familiar with these popular web apps when searching for enhancements, additions and even completely new apps to begin developing.
Top Web Apps for Programming Inspiration
Wednesday May 20, 2009
Flash vs. Silverlight
Wednesday May 20, 2009
Since the release of these new programs, designers and programmers are debating about which platform is the best choice. Here are some of the technical points of interest for the 2 platforms to help you in your overall comparison:
Animation
The Flash platform uses frame based animation, where objects can be created for each frame when building an animation series. Silverlight uses the WPF animation model which is not frame based, but time based. Some users feel that this model is easier to use as you don’t have to concern yourself with matrices as you do when using the Flash platform.
File Size
Users of Flash have access to compressed formats, so the file sizes are relatively small. Silverlight uses XAML which is not compressed, therefore file sizes are often larger.
Scripting
Flash uses ActionScript when programming scripts, an object oriented language. Many users are drawn to the user interfaces which offer full range of controls. The script programming with Flash can also be integrated with ease into a variety of other frameworks or languages. Silverlight offers several different languages for scripting, including most of the well known platforms.
These are just a few of the primary features and benefits that a new user would be interested in.
Each of these systems offers features and benefits that users should consider before purchasing or downloading to their operating systems. When possible, leverage free trials before completing a purchase so that you get a firm understanding of what opportunities and challenges the platform will present for your specific needs and uses.
