Re: 5250 for iPhone

Nathan Andelin wrote:

Joe Pluta wrote:
The definition of a web app is actually very simple: a
web application is an application accessed via a browser.

Accessed via a browser? That definition works for me. But it still begs the question, what about Mochasoft browser components? And what about Java applet based 5250 emulators embedded in HTML pages? And what about any other Java applet or ActiveX component embedded in HTML pages? And similarly, what about Flash and Silverlight plug-ins?

If it runs in a browser, it's a web application. All of the above are web applications.

I normally don't get caught up in semantics, but if push comes to shove, maybe the definition should be "accessed via browser" and "uses HTTP protocol" to communicate between client and server.

No. Don't confuse the issue. If it runs in a browser, it's a web application.

The fact that something require an additional component to be downloaded and installed in the browser does not remove the basic premise that a browser is needed.

You can probably make a reasoned argument that applications requiring plug-ins are a subset of web applications unique from applications that use only HTML, but then you begin a semantic nightmare. Is JavaScript a plug-in? Yes, because it's something that's downloaded (especially if you use a framework of any size).

At that point you're arguing semantics, and I don't really see a benefit to the end user.

Joe