The Gradual Disappearance Of Flash Websites – Smashing Magazine

The article found here:

The Gradual Disappearance Of Flash Websites – Smashing Magazine.

Is certainly an interesting one. I myself have questioned the need for a full-flash site, and after much research and many pro-vs-con charts, I have begun the undertaking of completely rebuilding my own portfolio site, and several other sites, in web standard based format.

“Why? what makes it worth rebuilding?”

What convinced me to switch “sides” from full-flash to web standards you mean? There are three primary reasons, actually, that swayed my focus.

1. Ease of content update: This was especially noticeable on my portfolio site, and a considerable flaw I saw in a current project I am working on. In both cases, as new content came along, the flash file would have to be opened, updated, saved and exported, then uploaded to publish the new content. The time it took was noteworthy.  Now content can be updated easily in Dreamweaver, and uploaded, cutting steps and time greatly. (And the bandwidth usage stays the same, if not somewhat smaller!)
2. Multi-Device web browsing: Another big concern to me was that flash, or newer versions of flash, were not being supported by many handheld/portable devices. As it is now, my flash website cannot be viewed on iPhones, Archoses, PSPs, Wiis, DSes, G1s, HTCs, etc… you get the idea! As the number of users web-browsing on smaller-screen and flashless devises increases, the need for an adaptable website also increases. This is where Web standards really shines!
3. Anything Flash can do Web Standards can do… too: With the continual development of web standards, and the adoption of CSS3 and HTML5, many effects formerly only available through flash or fancy graphics is now available in code form, greatly cutting down used hosting space, used bandwidth, and maximizing cross-platform compatibility. This opens a whole new world to web designers such as myself, and I thourghly enjoy pushing the browser to it’s limits with awesome code, while presenting an ever-increasing user experience based on aesthetics and dynamic functionality.

While these are the three main reasons, there were others as well. But in the end, it is up to the designer to know the right direction for their project, and it never hurts to be able to use either technology. The web is always growing, and always evolving, and we need to evolve with it.

In the mean time, keep an eye out for my new portfolio site rendition, as I am currently busy coding away as you read this!

-Sean

Tags: CSS, Design, Flash, HTML, Web, Web Standards