We're midway through the week and this week's poll has thrown up some interesting results so far. We asked: among the big Internet companies/orgs, whose web app deployment platform do you like best? Frankly I was expecting Adobe and Microsoft to top the poll, as Apollo and Silverlight have gotten a great deal of attention lately. But instead, it's Mozilla (which as yet hasn't even got a platform! -- but they could get one) and Google (which mostly relies on Ajax and the browser). Poor old Sun doesn't seem to have many supporters so far. Why? Perhaps because they're seen to be re-inventing the wheel (i.e. Ajax)?
I'd suggest then that the takeaway from the results so far is that people a) want the browser to remain the main platform for deploying web apps; and b) preferably they'd like it to be open source.
Here are the results so far. We've had 470 votes up till time of publishing this post, but there are still 3 days left in the week - so have your say by voting below.
Qst: Whose vision of web app deployment do you like the best?
Mozilla (open source, microformats, browser-based) 35% (166 votes)
Google (Ajax, mostly browser-based) 29% (135 votes)
Adobe (Apollo, browser/desktop) 22% (102 votes)
Microsoft (Silverlight, DotNet, browser/desktop) 11% (50 votes)
Sun (JavaFX, alternative to Ajax, browser/desktop) 2% (10 votes)
Other (please note in comments) 1% (7 votes)
Comments
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I think its a tough call. silverlight and apollo are a bit new at moment and I would be interested in seeing the results in 12 months time. I think if the site has a .net backend then you are going to see its front end more likely to be ajax.net or silverlight.
I am really interested in mozilla platform and I am a windows guy at work.
Posted by: Darren Stuart | May 16, 2007 1:08 AM"But instead, it's Mozilla (which as yet hasn't even got a platform! -- but they could get one)"
To me, Mozilla is already a platform for:
Posted by: Soyapi | May 16, 2007 3:01 AM1. Browser Extensions
2. Desktop Apps like Josost, Songbird, Flock
3. Web Apps like AjaxWrite http://us.ajax13.com/en/
If "people a) want the browser to remain the main platform for deploying web apps; and b) preferably they'd like it to be open source"
Posted by: Andrew | May 16, 2007 7:20 AMthen I would be a people. Actually, I would be the kind of people who subscribes to RWW. Silverlight will probably shine a lot brighter in the wider world.
Well I was using Internet Explorer for about 5 years and last year I decided to try Firefox, until now I am so satisfied with Firefox that I think I will now change it. What is most important there is huge number of Add-ons and also when I am suing him I feel mush secure than with IE6 ( I know for IE7 ).
Posted by: Software News | May 16, 2007 1:44 PMYes it's true that add-ons are a platform. Also interesting is how Google ranks higher than Adobe and MS, even though they basically just use existing platforms (the browser and Ajax). Can they do no wrong? ;-)
Posted by: Richard MacManus | May 16, 2007 3:14 PMThe results speak loudly. With Microsoft and even Adobe it just has this proprietary stench to it. Not sure why google doesn't quite yet?
With Add-Ons, Toolbars, JS libraries and a wealth of web services you can achieve just about anything within Firefox.
Good to see what people are feeling.
Posted by: Kin Lane | May 17, 2007 8:38 AM