tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33801994.post7200679128089414643..comments2024-02-14T02:30:36.732-05:00Comments on The Blog of Helios: A hard look at AdobeAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13978117986484281976noreply@blogger.comBlogger15125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33801994.post-30977532663895057182009-06-05T12:44:40.123-05:002009-06-05T12:44:40.123-05:00I'm a game developer currently using Flash and...I'm a game developer currently using Flash and unfortunately there just aren't any viable alternatives for viral browser-based games.<br /><br />Java is too problematic, doesn't have the install base and game portals won't take it. And when users are prompted with "Firefox needs to install a missing plug-in" 90% of the time they will just skip it and go somewhere else.<br /><br />For 3D game development there's opportunity if someone could once again* develop a web-player for Blender, along the lines of Garage Games' "Instant Action" project. Then we could develop 3D games in fully open source tools for an open source player.<br /><br />As far as I can tell that's the shortest path to creating a popular open source web format (for games at least). Even then you would need some killer apps to convince people the install is worth it.<br /><br />As for web pages, I totally agree that standard tools PHP, XHTML, CSS, etc are the way to go. I'm a total Flash fanboy for games or tools but I would NEVER develop a website with it.<br /><br /><br />* They tried a Blender web-player once already but only developed it for Internet Explorer! (insert forehead slap)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33801994.post-84899307961887366122009-06-05T06:19:44.960-05:002009-06-05T06:19:44.960-05:00I do agree about Flash, as I do with all closed-so...I do agree about Flash, as I do with all closed-source/restricted software.<br /><br />Unfortunately there isn't a good solution, except to implement all Flash functionality into standard HTML and Javascript and try to encourage web developers to use those rather than Flash.<br /><br />However, we're in a different situation to what we've been before. Microsoft is also in this game with a product that is much more restrictive. Not only does the Silverlight code possibly contain backdoors, but it's only available on Windows and OS X ia32. There is more likely to be a threat to open-source implementations than with Flash, too.<br /><br />Silverlight is spreading like a disease, and as such I'd prefer to support Flash until Silverlight is defeated. Silverlight is a common threat to Adobe and Linux users and I think we should work together with Adobe to get rid of the disease.Chris Leesnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33801994.post-46625503128198822962009-06-04T15:49:45.669-05:002009-06-04T15:49:45.669-05:00I've found this small, nifty Firefox extension...I've found this small, nifty Firefox extension called <b>FlashBlock</b>. It lets the user decide whether any Flash file should be displayed, by substituting every Flash content with a small circular button (aka "play" button). Only after clicking it the content is being played - very useful protection against CPU spikes.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33801994.post-17825732102693627232009-06-02T16:37:57.779-05:002009-06-02T16:37:57.779-05:00Great explanation. I vote to make sure we put effo...Great explanation. I vote to make sure we put effort in moving forward with competitive alternatives to flash that are 100% open.<br /><br />However, the last thing we need is to beat up on Adobe so that this monopolist gets replaced with the Megamonopolist that is trying to conquer this space with their even more closed technology. The last thing Linux, FOSS, and consumers everywhere need is a more influential and controlling Microsoft.<br /><br />If adobe can spy on us (this can be limited quite a bit with things like selinux), just imagine the poor folk caught in Microsoft's web.<br /><br />Microsoft is also the main competitor to an often criticized Google. The last thing we need is to have Google be replaced by Monopolysoft. That would be really bad news for Linux, FOSS, and families everywhere.<br /><br />If Google can spy on us (this can be limited through the websites we visit and things like control over cookies and through anonymous browsing), just imagine the poor folk that would be caught in Microsoft's extended web. [Microsoft already has access to your web browsing if you use their operating system.]<br /><br />My recommendation then is that we focus on spreading Linux ahead of efforts to subdue the little giants out there (especially whenever there is a good change we would be strengthening MegaMonopolysoft's hand since that would harm Linux+FOSS advance).Jose_Xnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33801994.post-82508811827190268222009-06-02T15:24:31.549-05:002009-06-02T15:24:31.549-05:00I simply choose not to have Flash loaded on my hom...I simply choose not to have Flash loaded on my home computers. At work, I'm required to do so due to some online "training" videos that I'm ordered to view on occasion. But home is a different story. I decided I don't need the "pr0n" or other online ads after all. I'm way too busy with stuff that actually matters in life. :-) CPU spikes from Web browsers aren't an issue for me ever since.<br /><br />If I really want to view a YouTube video, and there are some good eductational ones (e. g. the ones on handloading), then that's what the "youtube-dl" script and MPlayer/GXine are for.<br /><br />And yes, all my home computers run GNU/Linux or BSD.<br /><br />--SYGSum Yung Gainoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33801994.post-1705537392482916372009-06-02T06:20:13.723-05:002009-06-02T06:20:13.723-05:00If there was an excellent alternative to Flash (an...If there was an excellent alternative to Flash (and silverlight or java fx) it could definitely gain a lot of popularity.<br /><br />I would propose a sandboxed version of python or other similar scripting language, and the ability to run content, libraries etc for the internet, in its safe sandbox.<br /><br />This would be similar to using Java Applets, but would be Free Software based, and use human readable interpreted code.<br /><br />All we need is a safe sandboxed runtime to use as a browser plugin. We already have the scripting languages and many many libraries.<br /><br />LGPL licensing would work well, so that companies could built proprietary content if they wanted, but would have to contribute any changes to the core back.<br /><br />Also, something like python could be very very fast. (Python even has modules that can compile CPU expensive parts of the program to C and then to machine code.)<br /><br />We already have lots of great multimedia framewords that have python binding (or bindings for other languages). It would be quite possible to create a runtime / browser plugin taking advantage of those.<br /><br />The free software community has the ability to do this by combining other software that is open source and already exists. A developer friendly language like python would offer a very low barrier to entry, while allowing robust applications.<br /><br /><br />More Reasoning:<br /><br />Although XHTML, javascript, etc are an excellent way to go, there are many situation in which they don't suffice. One example is cross browser incompatibilities etc.<br /><br />Also, flash and as3 is often used for rapid application development and delivery interactive intensive multimedia, and sometimes even 3D graphics. (See papervision3d!)<br /><br />I do professional flash as3 programming myself, but it is obvious that better ways of accomplishing the same thing exist.<br /><br />For example, the 3D rendering capabilities in python (using the python-ogre libraries) are much much better than flash as3 based systems like papervision3d.<br /><br />Perhaps the existing Java applet plugin could be improved/modified to allow many of these ideas. If it could be made to run interpreted human readable code, and have bindings for some very optimized 3d and multimedia libraries, then we would have a solution.joetainmenthttp://celestinestudios.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33801994.post-39667339683913636452009-06-02T05:51:33.554-05:002009-06-02T05:51:33.554-05:00As a side note, it should be more often taken in c...As a side note, it should be more often taken in consideration that Flash-based sites are not readable by accessibility programs such as the ones used by blind people.<br />So Flash also discriminates by excluding people with disabilities.<br /><br />I suppose it's not as bad for things such as Youtube videos, but even then, I'm not sure there's a clear global shortcut to start playing them..<br /><br /><br />And anyway, the fact that flash content is not indexable is annoying as hell.<br /><br />Can't HTML 5's canvas solve much of this? Just a thought, I'm no programmer.axxhttp://www.perdu.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33801994.post-78500040078426651772009-06-02T00:32:08.296-05:002009-06-02T00:32:08.296-05:00"This is only the tip of the iceberg, though. Adob..."This is only the tip of the iceberg, though. Adobe could block out competitors’ software, spy on the users, or even include a “back door” to allow employees to remotely control anybody’s computer. With Flash’s massive install base, Adobe could technically do anything they want to your computer."<br /><br />I don't disagree with the comments about flash slowing down systems or causing instability. but i do have to wonder how much documented evidence there is of backdoors in binary blobs? <br />It seems a lot of linux / bsd distributions don't include blobs for this reason, but don't provide any evidence that it ever took place. <br />does anyone know of any evidence for this or is it just a rumor?<br />I won't say it's impossible, after all without access to source anything could be in the flash player, but is there any hard facts to back up such claims?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33801994.post-7956759690665727762009-06-02T00:15:27.083-05:002009-06-02T00:15:27.083-05:00To the claim, "Nobody can build a skyscraper alone...To the claim, "Nobody can build a skyscraper alone," I suggest the open source community help create the tools for a person to design, license and then construct a skyscraper on a budget. Not some cookie cutter skyscraper, but an imposing and original one. The chief obstacle is doing it without the crane. If people want an open source car, or bridge, go one step further, and make an open source skyscraper built by just one person.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33801994.post-52645874975196283172009-06-02T00:02:07.585-05:002009-06-02T00:02:07.585-05:00Absolutely. The points made in this post well thou...Absolutely. The points made in this post well thought out and articulated. It is heartening to see, in this fight for freedom, that the virtues of out comrades shine so brightly.<br /><br />Ken, I would urge you to point "HacktoLive toward this post and ask him to reconsider the wisdom of including "Moonlight", Novell's patent plagued port of Microsoft's "Silverlight", in his "SuperOS". Silverlight is of course, Microsoft's answer to Adobe's Flash. <br /><br />http://hacktolive.org/wiki/MoonlightStephenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12684679259584247259noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33801994.post-38569761600459858982009-06-01T23:35:41.685-05:002009-06-01T23:35:41.685-05:00Unfortunately, the "Just don't use Flash" solution...Unfortunately, the "Just don't use Flash" solution is a solution that can only be applied by the programmer.<br /><br />The user (web surfer) has little control of the situation, most of the time, since most services built on flash contain content unique to that site. It's either use the flash interface, or don't use the site (which is hardly a solution).rossperkhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15616471686891450864noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33801994.post-80857023294837228652009-06-01T16:46:35.765-05:002009-06-01T16:46:35.765-05:00I do a lot of accessibility work in web design. Ac...I do a lot of accessibility work in web design. Accessibility and flash really don't go together, so I'm already not using it.DouglasThttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08838399823736087514noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33801994.post-65927365621505906632009-06-01T12:42:16.384-05:002009-06-01T12:42:16.384-05:00My answer to the Adobe Flash problem is simply not...My answer to the Adobe Flash problem is simply not to use Flash. Modern standards compliant XHTML, CSS and Javascript are more than capable of doing the same job, faster, better and with more versatility.<br /><br />Of course the best reason to opt for XHTML, CSS and Javascript is it's human readable. When a bug is spotted it's easy to fix with nothing more than a text editor.<br /><br />Firefox 3 now supports embeded videos as well. So really there is no point to Flash any longer. It's a legacy technology like IE holding the rest of us back.aikiwolfiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08257742942798609981noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33801994.post-80762717474233289322009-06-01T07:22:54.800-05:002009-06-01T07:22:54.800-05:00Max, if you're reading this, I was the one who poi...Max, if you're reading this, I was the one who pointed you towards the comments on LXer for points that were brought up for consideration. I hope you didn't take what I said as spam. Your writing is a breath of fresh air. I look forward to future blog posts of yours. :)Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17612760065098765059noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33801994.post-4798215130619764602009-06-01T04:27:38.233-05:002009-06-01T04:27:38.233-05:00Kudos to you Ken for giving the lad a platform for...Kudos to you Ken for giving the lad a platform for his ideas. His logic and presentation are good and I appreciate his dedication. I do hope you did provide him with extra layers of skin. Maybe a good source for that would be karen.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com