Nate Klaiber

Dear HTML, CSS, and JavaScript: Flash is more flexible

Over the past month, there has been a large buzz about Flash and it’s place in web development. Some of these are Web-Standards zealots who despise Flash, and others are Flash developers who are defending their experience and background. Much of this buzz started after the iPad announcement, and the clear statement that Flash was not on the iPad. It seemed as though many people were up in arms, one way or another.

I enjoyed reading many of the articles from both parties. Both had valid points, and many had well thought out arguments. They articulated their stance very well and backed it up with facts.

Spreading opinion as fact

Amidst all of these other articles, I was referenced the following:

Flash Animation

The amount of designers and developers using Adobe Flash – a technology used to create multimedia content – will continue to increase this year. The thunder::tech team hopes to use Flash for more complex and animated Web projects in 2010 as more Web sites are being converted from HTML to Flash because of its increased flexibility.

HTML, a document-formatting language, shares very basic features with Flash. However, Flash is a better-suited structure for the functionality and interactivity that an integrated agency needs when creating a Web site, because it can incorporate a wide variety of features such as text, graphics, video, audio and applications much more effectively. As a result, designers and developers have more control when developing sites and applications.

Posted by Development at Thunder::Tech

Now, let’s sift through all of the opinion and jargon.

• ...more Web sites are being converted from HTML to Flash because of its increased flexibility.

  I actually left a comment asking for them to qualify this statement with some facts, but alas I didn’t make it through their moderation process. They make this statement, but never qualify how Flash has increased flexibility over HTML. What sites are they referring to that are being converted from HTML to Flash? I simply wanted some specific examples. It’s a myopic view to think that because they are switching to Flash, so are other Developers.

• HTML, a document-formatting language, shares very basic features with Flash.

  Again - no qualification. What basic features does it share with Flash? And vice-versa, does Flash function in the same manner with those basic features. I was genuinely curious as to what they considered interchangeable features between the two. There needs to be clear definition and distinction of what features they are referring to.

• However, Flash is a better-suited structure for the functionality and interactivity that an integrated agency needs when creating a Web site, because it can incorporate a wide variety of features such as text, graphics, video, audio and applications much more effectively. As a result, designers and developers have more control when developing sites and applications.

  This one was the kicker. How is it better suited for functionality and interactivity? HTML can’t incorporate text, graphics, video, or audio? I know HTML can’t produce video or audio directly, but they can be incorporated. I will agree that Flash meets the needs for audio and video, and I consider it the best option for both of those at this point in the game. Use the right tool for the job.

  Designers and developers have more control? How do they have more control? In what way does Flash give a developer and designer more control? Any experienced web developer understands their medium, and can work with the constraints - providing an optimal user experience. What does this look like when you hand over a CMS to a client? Do you give them the reigns to the .fla file, or do you only give them the ability through some sort of administrative interface?

  Sidenote Thundertech recently re-launched their site using all Flash. Be sure to tilt your head to the left a bit when reading. Oh, and have your speakers down in case you don’t get to the ’Shh!’ button in time. If Flash gives the designer and developer better controls, why is it when I click on their Blog that I am taken to a static version? Why is the blog not entirely Flash?

What’s my stance?

It has been a while since I have developed with Flash, because it simply hasn’t been the right tool for the job. Years ago I spent a large amount of time in ActionScript and heads down into Flash books. I read books on best practices for Flash (loading external movies, proper use of preloaders, loading external data, ActionScript versus timeline based, etc). I read books on Web Accessibility and the impact Flash had on accessibility for the end user. I thought it was great for what it was. In the end, however, it simply didn’t work for the medium: The Browser. Flash, both by it’s nature and abuse of designers, tried to eliminate a very important part of the equation.

As I stated earlier, Flash has it’s place for video and audio - but beyond that I fail to see any benefit over using HTML/CSS/JavaScript. I am genuinely interested to find those benefits.

My questions

I am still left with many of the questions above. I don’t want the marketing speak that Thundertech provided - I want the discussion in light of both sides of the argument and educated decisions. I still have questions around Flash that I have always had:

1. When I hover over links, I want to be able to see my destination page. How does Flash handle this?
2. When I click on links, I want to have the ability to open the link in a new tab or window (my choice). Why am I not given that option?
3. I won’t even ask about mobile devices.
4. I won’t address the overall SEO concerns, but a client should be aware of it’s impact on their business goals.
5. What if I want to print a page? This happens all too often with Restaurant sites done entirely in Flash. I simply want to print some content. What does this look like?
6. How about built-in browser tools? Simple things like searching within the page. For those of us that scan, or quickly want to find information - why can’t I use standard tools?
7. I know Flash can be made accessible, and defining content regions (rendering order). What you end up doing is defining a DOM structure inside of Flash. Doubling the work. Does anyone have examples of sites using this effectively?
8. What about being able to tab through a document or form? What does the reading/tab order look like?
9. What about the handful of interface issues? Flash developers seem to like to re-invent the UI, only causing more harm than good. There are a wide range of topics to be discussed here.
10. My eyes get tired when reading, there are many times I want to increase the text size. How does Flash respond to me wanting to increase the text size?
11. How about situations where users want to have their own defined stylesheets to help them read and scan? How does Flash handle me wanting to have control over my viewing experience?
12. What about plugins I use in my browser to help me filter out advertising and block popups?

It seems when I ask Flash developers these questions, they all say it can be done. Some of these things can be done. With JavaScript communicating with the flash movie and then the browser. At that point I would ask - why Flash? What is the benefit that it is providing? How is it enhancing my browsing experience? While it is clear that I am not an advocate of Flash, I am genuinely looking for answers to these questions.

OR – did I just miss the memo and everyone is moving to Flash?