IBM pushing rich internet client project for Eclipse

Source: Computer Business Review

Summary:
Following up its distribution of the OpenLaszlo rich internet client on its alphaWorks emerging technology website, IBM Corp and Laszlo Systems Inc are now jointly proposing an IDE project for Eclipse.

Rich Internet Applications (RIAs) are a reaction to the dumbed-down terminal emulation clients that typify most HTML web pages. Because of the limitations of HTML and JavaScript, Internet clients lack many of the visual navigation and local intelligence features of traditional Windows clients.

In recent years, Macromedia has begun beefing up its Flash player with the new Flex framework to provide an industrial-strength environment for development rich web apps. Microsoft in turn is developing Avalon, a rich Internet environment for its forthcoming Longhorn Windows platform.

For now Macromedia claims a head start, boasting 300 customers for Flex.

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