But they tried, and for the most part failed. JRE is difficult to manage and maintain, and security wise is a nightmare compared to javascript (would you run r

But they tried, and for the most part failed. JRE is difficult to manage and maintain, and security wise is a nightmare compared to javascript (would you run random .jar's from any website?) Adobe had multiple attempts at a "browser-like" runtime for flash, none of which got all that far (although the Adobe Air system has done pretty damn well, and is actually still alive and kicking). It could be any number of reasons why web won over the alternatives, but I just don't think that it won because of a mistake, or a fluke. The web was doing something better than the others, and while I can't exactly pinpoint it (hell, it probably isn't any one thing), it is winning. And i'm in no way saying it's perfect. There are a ton of things i'd change about it if given the chance. But you can't just act like it's a horrible platform and that we should start over with something better (like many commenters in this thread and across the internet in general are saying).