AJAX

I have used ajax techniques to enhance some forms and applications (unfortunately, at the time of writing, they are all behind firewalls). The applications work portably across browsers and Windows/Mac/Linux.

I have used javascript for many years, long before AJAX was the buzzword of the day, and have used very similar client/server techniques in flash applications. I have used the Prototype javascript library. I have also written my own connectivity functions when that suits the job better.

Compared to Flash, what I like about AJAX is that front-end forms are easier to write and smoother (Flash is weak on forms and user interface controls, compared to HTML). Advantages of Flash are that it can do not just data-pull but data-push communication (vital in financial industry applications for instance), and animation and special effects are much easier and smoother.