Web development is always evolving and now it's taking another leap into the unknown with the power struggle between Flash and HTML 5. Adobe systems wants to keep a piece of the pie with the coexistence of Flash and HTML 5. Can this union exist?

If it were up to Steve Jobs and Apple, the flash platform would have been phased out a long time ago. Performance, security and reliability have continually been reoccurring issues. They feel the HTML 5 standard is the platform of the future and want to exclude all Flash support from its platform.

Adobe labs of course doesn't want to leave Flash behind and has recently created Wallaby, a Flash to HTML 5 converter. Although this converter is compatible with the Google, Safari and Apples iOS browsers, not all conversions are fully supported. Since Wallaby is fairly new, they are continually working on developing more features for the conversion application as Adobe gets feedback from users.

How does it work?

The software runs in conjunction with adobe air and its purpose is to convert Flash (FLA) files into the HTML 5 format by simply dragging and dropping. After the files are converted, the HTML can then be edited. Of course the software is an attempt by Adobe to increase its distribution of Flash to a wider audience, especially through mobile platforms of the iPod and iPad.

Seeing that there are more than 3 million Flash developers, Adobe wants to continually help them build on their existing skills and provide a way for their content to continually reach the biggest available market. They are hoping that Wallaby can bridge the gap and keep Flash alive.

Can Flash survive or is it only a matter of time that it will become another obsolete application?

It all depends on whom you talk to. Adobe is doing everything it can to keep Flash alive and try to find a way to develop tools for both Flash And HTML. It doesn't want to succumb to the idea that Flash and HTML 5 can't coexist.

On the other hand, many looking ahead to the future, see Flash as a platform of the past. If allowed to coexist the fear of flooding the development community with Flash to HTML 5 conversions that simply won't have the functionality needed.

The argument on their end remains that HTML 5 is all that’s needed to do everything Flash can do and more.

In our opinion, we can see why many want Flash to remain. However, like all technology, we leave behind what's has been good for what is better. HTML 5 is currently the wave of the future and Flash will ultimately be phased out.