Adobe Flex vs. Microsoft Silverlight
SCENE: RIA Arena, night. The seats surrounding the ring are filled with thousands of raucous fans. In the ring are a REFEREE and the two CONTENDERS, ADOBE FLEX and MICROSOFT SILVERLIGHT.
Referee: In this corner: the undisputed heavyweight champion of the application programming world – Adobe Flex!
(Cheers and applause from spectators)
Referee (cont’d): And in the far corner, the challenger – Microsoft Silverlight!
(Boos and catcalls from spectators)
Focus turns to the broadcast booth, where sportscasters BUTCH BARDSDALE and SPIKE SPAVINS are seated before old-time stainless steel microphones.
Spike: Good evenin’, ladies and joyms, from Rich Internet Application Arena. I’m Spike Spavins -
Butch: And I’m Butch Bardsdale.
Spike: Tonight, we’re bringin’ you live – da match of da century – Adobe Flex vesus Microsoft Silverlight!
Butch: Well, Spike – dis should turn out to be a battle royale.
Spike: Yes it should, Butch. And we are predictin’ a serious grudge match, here. Adobe Flex has a lot of fans here tonight – an’ Microsoft Silverlight is nuttin’ more den an upstart punk new-comer -
Butch: Da one ting Microsoft gots behind him is a lotta bucks and marketing power.
Spike: Dat’s true, Butch – da guy what owns Silverlight is a heavy hitter, and he’s got muscle.
Butch: There’s a lot of folks who say that Silverlight’s owner ‘s been throwing his weight around too much and fer too long.
Spike: Mebbe so, Butch – but Adobe’s got age and experience. Dis may turn out to be a contest of brains over brawn.
In the ring, a scantily-clad brunette smiles broadly, strutting across the area holding up a sign upon which is written, “ROUND 1.”
The bell rings and the two contenders come out swinging.
Butch: And so it begins – Adobe gettin’ in some good punches dere wit’ its Flash-based platform.
Spike: Dat’s one ting Microsoft Silverlight can’t compete with -
Suddenly, ADOBE FLEX gets in a roundhouse punch square in the face of MICROSOFT SILVERLIGHT, causing the latter to stagger backwards.
Spike (cont’d): Ooh – dat’s gotta hoit.
Butch: But look – Silverlight’s comin’ back at ‘im wit’ cross-platform compatibility!
In the ring, MICROSOFT SILVERLIGHT throws windmill punches using both Windows and MacOS. However, ADOBE FLEX has his guard up and sneaks in an extra punch with Linux – right in SILVERLIGHT’S eye.
Spike: Did you see dat?!?
Butch: Indeed I did, Spike. Silverlight may have dat double Windows-Mac whammy, but Adobe was dere foist – and gots da Linux punch as well.
Spike: Silverlight’s trying to get in some punches wit’ da Java hook – but Adobe sees it comin and gets in anudder hit to da left wit’ its separate an’ secure Flash plug-in tucked away in ‘is Sandbox environment!
SILVERLIGHT continues to lash out at ADOBE, to no avail.
Butch: Wit’ ‘is fancy footwork – t’anks to da fact that he kin go anywhere – Adobe is keepin’ Silverlight at arms’ length -
Spike: Looks like Silverlight’s startin’ ta wear out like a cheap pair o’ shoes. He can’t even git close ta Adobe!
Butch: But what’s goin’ on? Silverlight’s getting’ a second wind -
Indeed he is; SILVERLIGHT makes a brief comeback, swinging hard with his dedicated developer tools, particularly Expression Blend; however, ADOBE is able to block it with Adobe Catalyst every time.
Finally, ADOBE delivers the knockout blow with a hard AMF to the side of the head; SILVERLIGHT collapses to the mat.
Referee: One…! Two…! Three…! (etc.)
Spike: Willya look at dat! Silverlight just folded up like an old accordion!
Butch: Dat’s because Silverlight’s .NET wuz never more den a cheap imitation of Adobe’s ActionScript! He couldn’t stand up -
Referee: Eight…! Nine…! Ten!!
Spike: And dat’s it fer Silverlight – down fer da count!
Butch: Down and out! Da Flex remains – undisputed champion!
The crowd goes wild as the referee holds up ADOBE’S arm in triumph and the scantily-clad brunette plants a kiss on his cheek and throws a garland around his neck.
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Tags: ActionScript, Adobe, Adobe Catalyst, Flash, Flash Builder, Flex, Flex Builder, Silverlight, Software Development Framework
