RIA in Perspective Ken Wilner VP of Technology Progress Software Session 122

© 2009 Progress Software Corporation. All rights reserved. Since The Beginning of Time… 2 Do I wantRich or Reach?

© 2009 Progress Software Corporation. All rights reserved. Rich Internet Applications - Rich vs. Reach RIA The best of both worlds!! Deployed over the Web No installation or automated installation and updates Look and feel of desktop applications 3 Reach Rich Desktop Client Browser Client RIA

© 2009 Progress Software Corporation. All rights reserved. Rich Internet Applications - Rich vs. Reach RIA The best of both worlds!! Deployed over the Web No installation or automated installation and updates Look and feel of desktop applications Lots of choices: Lightweight Ajax Heavyweight Ajax Browser-based Plug-ins Desktop RIA 4 Reach Rich Desktop Client Browser Client RIA

© 2009 Progress Software Corporation. All rights reserved. Lightweight Ajax Focused on Ajax-ifying a traditional Web application Open source JavaScript libraries – over 150 Most popular Dojo YUI (Yahoo) jQuery Prototype ExtJS Simplifies programming Hide browser differences Ajax controls and visual effects XML helper functions XMLHttpRequest object 5

© 2009 Progress Software Corporation. All rights reserved. Heavyweight Ajax Focused on building a complete Ajax UI or significant independent UI component Client Written in JavaScript or compiled to Javascript Server Compilation services Framework services -Database integration -Web services and REST support -Data compression/normalization Limited visual designer tools Commercial open source offerings with up-sell 6

© 2009 Progress Software Corporation. All rights reserved. Heavyweight Ajax – Programming Models Declarative XML with JavaScript Backbase (no server) Nexaweb Tibco General Interface (no server) OpenLaszlo (no tools) SmartClient ASP.NET/JSP Use a native programming language, e.g. C#, VB.NET, Java At runtime converted to HTML and JavaScript GWT (Google) Program and debug in Java Compile to JavaScript 7

© 2009 Progress Software Corporation. All rights reserved. Browser Plug-ins Adobe Flex Runs on Flash player Program using MXML and Actionscript – compiled to SWF Built-in RPC, REST, Web Services, and server-push mechanism via optional LiveCycle Data Services Flex Builder (Eclipse plug-in) provides visual designer Silverlight (Microsoft) - V3 released July 2009 Program using XAML and a.NET programming language like C# or VB.NET Silverlight specific visual designer Communicate with the server using WCF, e.g. REST, Web Services, sockets Supported on all IE, Firefox, and Safari browsers and Windows, Mac, and Linux platforms 8

© 2009 Progress Software Corporation. All rights reserved. Desktop RIA Installed on the desktop Provisioned over the Web Automatically installed and incrementally update (Smart Client) Terminal services, e.g. Citrix Benefits Full branding Tighter integration with the desktop Ability to run in background mode (Smart Client only) Ability to run off-line (Smart Client only) 9

© 2009 Progress Software Corporation. All rights reserved. Desktop RIA OpenEdge GUI for.NET or OpenEdge GUI with WebClient Windows only Adobe AIR Flex on the desktop Released Feb 2008 Supported by SalesForce and ebay Windows, Mac, Linux Microsoft WPF/Winforms with ClickOnce Windows only Java UI with Java WebStart (limited momentum) 10

© 2009 Progress Software Corporation. All rights reserved. Number of User Interfaces – May

© 2009 Progress Software Corporation. All rights reserved. Percent Usage by UI Type 12 18%/32%

© 2009 Progress Software Corporation. All rights reserved. OpenEdge GUI for.NET And OpenEdge GUI Percent Usage by Deployment Type 13

© 2008, Forrester Research, Inc. Reproduction Prohibited Matching The Usage Intensity Persona Groups To Ajax Deployments March 2008 Ajax Disappoints Power Users Looking For Web 2.0-Style Business Apps 14

© 2009 Progress Software Corporation. All rights reserved. Infrequent User Occasional User Power User OpenEdge GUI/ChUI Desktop and Browser Plugins: OpenEdge GUI for.NET, Flex / AIR, Silverlight / WPF AJAX: Lightweight, Heavyweight OpenEdge RIA Strategy and Positioning End-user Satisfaction 15

© 2009 Progress Software Corporation. All rights reserved. Summary Dont succumb to the hype Start with the end-user Ajax for occasional user and infrequent user Browser plug-ins and desktop RIA for power users Factor in the skillsets of the developers Follow the guidelines and principles of the OERA Plan for the future 16

© 2009 Progress Software Corporation. All rights reserved. UI Decision Tree 17

RIA in Perspective Ken Wilner VP of Technology Progress Software Session 122