Is there an open source alternative to Flash for web animation?

Question

I want to make something similar to this, but I'd like to avoid proprietary platforms (flash). I'm relatively new to development and I'm willing to learn anything. I understand that some javascript frameworks like jQuery and MooTools are capable of some animation, but is this beyond their capability? What do you recommend?

thanks

score 5 · Accepted Answer · answered Feb 12 '09 at 00:44

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Take a look at John Resig's processing.js. No need to use raw jQuery when jQuery's primary author already done the work!

answered Feb 12 '09 at 00:44

jdigital

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Thanks! A friend of mine showed me this a long time ago before I could appreciate what it was. This will do the trick, I believe. – Thomas G Henry LLC Feb 12 '09 at 03:05

Brian Bolton · Answer 2 · 2009-02-12T00:44:53.503

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You can use FlashDevelop for the IDE

http://osflash.org/flashdevelop

Also, you can use gnash as the player.

http://www.gnu.org/software/gnash/

edited Feb 12 '09 at 00:44

answered Feb 12 '09 at 00:33

Brian Bolton

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I think he's asking about the actual platform, not the player. – BC. Feb 12 '09 at 00:34

score 1 · Answer 3 · answered Feb 12 '09 at 00:35

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The more important question is, if you found such a platform would anyone be able to play it with software they already have installed?

answered Feb 12 '09 at 00:35

BC.

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I think you hit the nail on the head: Flash is ubiquitous... it makes some sense to take advantage of that. – JMD Feb 12 '09 at 00:53
that's why I'm thinking about JS frameworks – Thomas G Henry LLC Feb 12 '09 at 02:42

score 1 · Answer 4 · answered Feb 12 '09 at 01:11

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What about Java or JavaFX? I actually don't know a whole lot about it but it's supposed to be for RIAs which puts it into the Flash and Silverlight class of technologies.

answered Feb 12 '09 at 01:11

dtc

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score 1 · Answer 5 · answered Feb 12 '09 at 01:21

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I know that SVG is capable of animation, but I don't know how widespread the support is or what tools support it.

answered Feb 12 '09 at 01:21

Mark Ransom

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as usual on w3 specs: everyone except IE – Javier Feb 12 '09 at 02:01
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It works in IE with a plugin. Though good luck when trying to get visitors to install it. – posfan12 Dec 26 '11 at 07:35

score 0 · Answer 6 · answered Feb 12 '09 at 00:34

To replicate the animation you pointed to would be very difficult in JQuery, but not impossible. Question is, are you up for the challenge?

I wouldn't recommend alternatives to Flash unless the app you are building is internal to your company and you can be sure everyone will have the necessary plugins installed.

score 0 · Answer 7 · answered Feb 12 '09 at 01:16

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Check out Processing.

Also check out the free Flex SDK, which allows you to write and compile Actionscript without the Flash IDE

answered Feb 12 '09 at 01:16

Aaron

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score 0 · Answer 8 · answered Feb 12 '09 at 01:17

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You could use Moonlight, the open source clone of Silverlight.

answered Feb 12 '09 at 01:17

John D. Cook

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I believe Moonlight is only a player. You would still need to use Microsoft tools to create the content. – dtc Feb 13 '09 at 19:36

score 0 · Answer 9 · edited Aug 01 '12 at 16:09

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From the Java space:

JavaFX already had 100.000.000 downloads if you're worried about adoption.
Processing. You'd still have to worry about the download size. IMHO, processing is great for prototypes, but you have to do quite a lot of work to make the applet performant, especially when no animation is going.

edited Aug 01 '12 at 16:09

Bill the Lizard

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answered Feb 17 '09 at 13:35

jamesh

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Is there an open source alternative to Flash for web animation?

9 Answers9