Are There Better Alternatives to Ajax?

Alexei White doesn't think so. In this in-depth post, he takes a look at XUL, XAML, SVG, Flash, Applets and Ajax and concludes that Ajax is the clear winner. I tend to agree - looking beyond all the current hype (and the fact that "ajax" isn't really anything new), it appears that there are some genuine advantages. However, the post fails to mention Macromedia Flex, which some say is a more worthy contender in the field. Time will tell.

As a new technology moves through the hype curve, detractors emerge to raise the inevitable question "Why not something else?". Now we have AJAX - an admittedly powerful approach to web development, but is that because it's really the best option for the job? If not, does that mean we should expect AJAX to fade away as have other much hyped technologies?... Ajax is a natural choice for four reasons: 1. It solves current business problems. 2. Platform independance. 3. Skill-set comformity. 4. Network effects.