Flash on websites?

[KMRock]

What are your views on the use of Flash on websites? For or against?

[themdno]

I don't have any problems with it, but these days I'm starting to prefer html5 and javascript to replace it. As of right now, I don't think there are any advantages to using flash over html5 and javascript. I'd rather get with the future, but like I said, no problems other than that.

[KMRock]

Yeah nice points. I personally believe it is outdated as well, though you can still see some awesome flash websites.

[Thomas]

Since I spend most of my time surfing using my iPhone or iPad I dislike Flash for the obvious reason that it won't work on these devices. 

[KMRock]

Since I spend most of my time surfing using my iPhone or iPad I dislike Flash for the obvious reason that it won't work on these devices. 

 

Very true, I suppose with the progression to tablets and smart phones flash is becoming irrelevant.

[McShanenioi]

I think it depends on the purpose and the design of the website. I'm using javascript and jquery for them to work on mobile devices.

[Sunnyshine]

I think Flash should be used very, very sparingly, and only if you know what you are doing.  For example, flash applications and flash games are fine if they demonstrate what you do well - for example, using a flash game to demonstrate your ability as a game designer.  But if you use flash for everything (flash splashpages are a huge mistake that some people make) then it often gets annoying and can even slow down the page.  For pretty effects, CSS3's animated transitions are a far less clunky choice.

[Nathan]

Nope, search engines can crawl the sites if they are all flash.  HTML5 is the way of the future.

[Mommajj8]

Sunnyshine said what I was thinking.

 

I can only think of a very few reasons that flash would be warranted on a website these days.

[OhioTom76]

I'm against it at this point. I wouldn't waste the time or resources on Flash right now, with Adobe Edge Animate making it's debut. Quality Flash applications take a lot of resources and it's pointless to pay for all that work when it is going to be throwaway sometime soon. Not to mention hiring people with Flash development expertise - they may not know HTML or CSS or how to work with Edge Animate. 

[westmixxin]

 it seems like flash is a given with websites it's pretty hard to avoid having to download the flash player because pretty much everything requires you to have one, I don't really see flash going anywhere anytime soon it pretty much has been the industry-standard for a long time.

[andy103]

Usually I don't have a problem with flash on websites, unless I'm on my Ipad. Since Ipads (for whatever reason) cant run Flash it makes it a little irritating since I cant actually view the site on my Ipad.

[stutin]

I think I do not mind flash on my website...as long as it is designed uniquely. I have no experience with flash work...I would like to learn more about it. However, I have seen some business websites that I have designed flash and it merely depends on the theme of your website for you to decide whether to have one or not.....

[devilishomar]

Most of the time when I encounter Flash on a website, it's presented in a much subtle manner (with the exception of ads). This may be due to the volatile nature of Flash (not being suitable for poorly created apps or animations) which may have encouraged developers to produce much neater and intuitive applications on Flash. So I would say i'm for Flash for the most part.

[xbrix]

I completely against flash on websites.

When ever I see flash, I instantly leave the website because it gives me a head ache to look at.

[XxMotleyCrueXx]

I have no problems with flash, it loads up webpages nicely plus it works with YouTube, I dont think I could use YouTube without or or play videos! Plus I heard HTML 5 causes some videos not to play on YouTube.

Edited December 25, 2013 by XxMotleyCrueXx

[OhioTom76]

From what I've gathered, Flash isn't necessarily going away, but rather it's purpose is transitioning more towards standalone desktop applications. Adobe AIR from what I understand is essentially a browser free environment for Flash to run on people's desktops. Some programs these days are being built within AIR, since it solves cross platform compatibility issues - develop once, instead of making several versions of your program to run on all OSes.

 

Also, depending on what type of animation and functionality you may need, some sites may still be depending on Flash for it's Actionscripting and other features. 

 

Flash centers around frames-based animations - think old school cartoons or flipbooks, where you are literally drawing the animation one frame at a time. Adobe Edge Animate uses mainly Javascript for it's animations, and creating them relies more on timelines and setting key frames - then defining the animation from one point to another. You don't have nearly as much control over the animations in Edge as you do in Flash, particularly if you want organic looking movements. 

[qaximor]

I hate seeing flash on websites. Especially websites that use the whole design in flash. It just makes it ugly. I like it when it's purely made with HTML and CSS and a little bit of flash! Usually the company websites are made with flash which are awful! Plus they make the website run slow and can't use it on phones like iPhone

[LivetoErr]

Man, I can remember when Flash was all the rage,

 

Now. I think it's outdated. I can't count how many times I've gone to a website and it tells me there is something wrong with my flash player. Also, I too, use my iPad, iPhone quite a lot and think it's rediculous when I can't access a website because it's in flash. I often wonder, if the web owner realizes he/she is losing potential customers. More often than not, I will forget that I wanted to look at a Flash based site when I'm surfing the internet on my PC.

 

Having said that, a lot of Facebook games I play require Flash. I suppose it's got it's good and bad points, but, overall, I'd like to see it off company websites.

[OhioTom76]

It made sense in the late 90's and early 2000's when the browsers were still at odd over web standards, and most of the functionality Flash offered couldn't be replicated easily and consistently across all browsers via standard HTML, CSS and Javascript. You would simply design one Flash animation/app and it had consistent cross browser support.

 

A few years ago, I was using a Pay Per Click bid management service that was designed entirely in Flash. I'm not sure if they are still using it, but I could see where it would be beneficial to the developers instead of having to test their whole platform out in several browsers, as well as maintain support for older browsers.

 

What is really starting to drive me nuts with Flash is that Adobe is going down the same road they went with Acrobat - they've apparently signed agreements with McAfee and Ask.com to bundle their stuff with the updates. So now they are going bonkers with constantly pushing out updates, which also happen to keep asking to install their bundled software as well. I've already taken Acrobat off of my system because of this (switched to FoxIt Reader instead) and I'm about to remove Flash as well.