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Ask HN: Switch from Flash to HTML5 for a new version of a large project?
We have a large web product with 11 million users (widgets that are embedded into third party web sites, and now adding iOS/Android apps). Most of our core interface is written in ActionScript 2.0. We are planning to release a revamped version. We are now facing a choice of porting it to ActionScript 3.0 or rewriting it in HTML5. We already have about 30% of our code written in AS 3.0. Can you help us make this decision?
HTML5
Pros
1.Future proof
2.Works in browser in iOS
3.No plugin required, presumably faster loading
4.Native browser rich text rendering, including spell check and copy/paste
5.Appealing to webmasters (contemporary technology)
Cons
1.Product relies on WebSocket - no standard yet, not available in IE
2.Highly custom UI, not consistent across all browsers
3.No video/audio hardware interaction for stream capture
4.Harder to convert into iOS apps (e.g. need hybrid apps, UIWebView cannot easily call functions in the native wrapper)
5.Javascript is like AS 1.0, less sophisticated than AS 3.0
6.More work for us given our existing codebase and skills
7.Harder to embed JS widgets into third party sites than Flash widgets
Flash
Pros
1.Already have some code base, experience
2.Video/audio stream capture, socket connection
3.Good for widgets on third party websites
4.Consistent UI across browsers and platforms
5.Easier to use the same codebase for AIR apps on iOS/Android
Cons
1.Adobe's commitment to Flash is unclear
2.Adobe feels free to force developers to change technologies often, unreliable : AS1.0, AS2.0 have been phased out, Text Layout Framework is not supported on mobile and is being phased out, not clear if our AS3.0 codebase will still be relevant in 3 years)
3.Shoddy support of Flash on Android (e.g. text input is broken in 25% of devices)
4.Does not work in browser on iOS and Metro, so need a lite HTML5 version anyway
5.Slower in browser on Android
6.Public perception of Flash as obsolete?