.Net "Applet"

[Guest]

Hi all,

I'm curious if Microsoft has any plans of taking the .Net framework to the
web in the same kind of capacity as Java Applets do. I've read that using
the <object> tag, one can embed a Windows Control (though, not a form) into a
web page for IE. I was wondering if there's been any talk of the existance
of .Net Applets or if that's something that's even been considered. Thanks
for any information!

Brian

 

[Bob Lehmann]

to the web in the same kind of capacity as Java Applets do

You mean virtually nonexistent? What would be the business case for that?

Bob Lehmann

 

[Guest]

?? Java Applets are pretty existant... I don't mean Java Applets allowing
for .Net stuff, I just mean having the ability to use .Net on the web in the
same kind of way that Applets allow Java to be used on the web.

 

[Guest]

Hi all,

I'm curious if Microsoft has any plans of taking the .Net framework to
the web in the same kind of capacity as Java Applets do. I've read
that using the <object> tag, one can embed a Windows Control (though,
not a form) into a web page for IE.

Winforms hosted in IE is the .NET equivalent of an applet.

However, .NET's has much more security restrictions than Java... so some
configuration is required on the client side.

Works great for us - we have complex apps hosted in IE. Great for apps
which require threading, remoting/web service access, etc.

However, I would only recommend this technology for intranet apps -
especially if you need remote network connections. By default .NET doesn't
seem to allow Network connections out to foreign servers (supposedly you
can connect to the originating host... but I haven't verified if that
works).

 

[Guest]

You mean virtually nonexistent? What would be the business case for that?

Complex apps are easier to code in Java/.NET than in Javascript + Ajax.

Also, applets tend to be more reliable than ajax + javascript.

There are a lot of reasons why you would want to build an applet rather
than a ajax enabled web app.

 

[Bob Lehmann]

Maybe my fault, but you've both missed my point.

I was responding to this -The above statement implies widespread use of Java Applets on the web. It is
very rare to see Java Applets on a website.

Complex apps are easier to code in Java/.NET than in Javascript + Ajax.

No doubt - no disagreement here.

Also, applets tend to be more reliable than ajax + javascript.

Maybe. As long as the correct JVM is installed on the user's machine, and
they allow Applets.

There are a lot of reasons why you would want to build an applet

But, if you build it, will they come?

Bob Lehmann

 

[Juan T. Llibre]

re:

But, if you build it, will they come?

I imagine that would depend on the user's needs...and the platform used.

For example, this NOAA weather applet is viewed hundreds of millions of times a year:
http://www.ssd.noaa.gov/PS/TROP/DATA/RT/watl-ir4-loop.html




Juan T. Llibre, asp.net MVP
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===================================

 

[Bob Lehmann]

I imagine that would depend on the user's needs...and the platform used.

Exactly!

And this is an example of a specialized application, that a certain group of
people would probably be interested in.

I'm talking about about general purpose, let's do it because-we-can type of
applets (remember the Lake Applet?), that fall into the same genre as web
page pop-ups, Flash-based eye candy, and the <blink> tag.

Again, the OP suggested that Java Applets are an ubiquitous, general
purpose, for-the-masses, web technology, and that is not true.

Bob Lehmann

 

[Guest]

I'm talking about about general purpose, let's do it because-we-can
type of applets (remember the Lake Applet?), that fall into the same
genre as web page pop-ups, Flash-based eye candy, and the <blink> tag.

Apparently you can code Flash apps in .NET now:

http://www.globfx.com/products/neoswiff/

 

[Bob Lehmann]

Cool! Another gee-whiz thinga-majig that many people won't see because they
either do not have Flash, or have blocked Flash in their browser.

Bob Lehmann

 

[Guest]

Cool! Another gee-whiz thinga-majig that many people won't see because
they either do not have Flash, or have blocked Flash in their browser.

I'm sure the vast major of web browsers have flash support.

If you want absolute compatiblity you would stick with plain HTML - but if
you want any sort of rich functionality - such is life - gotta go with
flash, java, javascript, or .NET winforms applets.

 

[Laurent Bugnion]

Hi,

I'm sure the vast major of web browsers have flash support.

Actually, they don't unless you install it. It's a plug-in, no part of
the browser.

If you want absolute compatiblity you would stick with plain HTML - but if
you want any sort of rich functionality - such is life - gotta go with
flash, java, javascript, or .NET winforms applets.

I would differentiate JavaScript from the rest of the technologies you
mention. JavaScript in the browser has reached a level of
standardization like never before. This, especially in conjunction with
web services, allows a great richness of content without having to
bother too much about compatibility. Besides, and though it's possible
to block JavaScript, it is enabled per default (contrarily to Flash,
Java or other plug-in based technologies), and most users security-aware
users allow it because JavaScript's sandbox is much stricter than Java's.

HTH,
Laurent