Re: web-based application or desktop application?

[hardburn]

Doing web-based applications may seem like a lot of fluff, but I think their value of making the client OS irrelevent is wonderful. If they have a reasonable browser, they can access your application.

The major problem with web-based apps, as you've hit upon, is that HTML is too simplistic. Further, the only viable alternatives (Flash, Java Applets, etc.) have other problems, and often break the cross-platform nature that is the biggest advantage of web-based apps in the first place.

[relax99]

The major problem with web-based apps, as you've hit upon, is that HTML is too simplistic.

XForms look promising. I haven't yet seen XForms mentioned on perlmonks, but I think this is one new technology that makes a lot of sense, especially to automate document workflow inside the company. None of the major browsers currently supports XForms without a plug-in, but this is only a matter of time.

[hardburn]

XForms++

IE--, which will probably take almost 10 years to support it properly (see also: CSS layout model).