Replace Flash – Migration Is Needed. The End of Flash & Flex

The end of Flash is here.  Flash replacement is now a must, but how to migrate from Flash player to html5?

Our software development company can help you replace Flash with a modern alternative.

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Support for Adobe Flash Has Ended – It’s Time to Migrate

As of the end of 2020, Adobe has officially stopped supporting its Flash multimedia platform. An icon of the early noughties, Flash was used in a variety of different arenas, from marketing in animated ads and booklets to developing games and interactive websites. Even today, many nursery and primary schools the world over are still using Flash apps to make the learning process more engaging.

With official support coming to an end, however, every major web browser has also stopped supporting Flash.

What Happens When Adobe Flash Ends? Flash Replacement

As with any other deprecating technology, in order to efficiently address this issue, the first step would be to identify your Flash app’s use cases and components. This will help you narrow down the candidates for Flash replacement.

  • Adobe Flex

          A framework for building cross-platform applications with a common codebase and toolset (for mobile, web and desktop platforms).

  • Flash

          A popular multimedia platform used primarily for the desktop and web.

What Are the Alternatives to Flash? From Flash Player to HTML5 

As shown in the chart below, the modern web has introduced some fantastic alternatives to Flash.

With the help of Vue.js and React, developers can redesign cross-platform Flex applications into more cohesive progressive web apps (PWAs); using Java, Kotlin and Swift, they can refashion them into native applications; and by utilising React Native, Ionic and Flutter, they can create more seamless cross-platform experiences.

Alternatively, Flash and Flex web applications may also be converted into HTML5, JavaScript or CSS-based apps, as these work well with Vue.js and React.

Potential Replacement Tech Stacks

Flash Replacement: From Flash To Html5
Legacy App Features New Tech Stack

Flash Video

HTML5 embedded video

Camera/Microphone access

webRTC and Media Capture and Streams API

File selection

HTML5 <input> tag

Clipboard access

Supported by default in HTML5 WebSockets

Flash TCP sockets (used in real-time multiuser apps, chat apps, etc.)

Modern CSS layouts systems (Grid, Flexbox)

Flex UI

HTML5 <canvas> tag, WebGL

Graphics (2D, 3D) and Animation

JavaScript libraries and APIs (D3.js, Three.js, WebGL)

How To Migrate From Flash Or Flex Safely: Legacy App Features

After determining the best alternative technologies, the migration process itself can be handled in one of two ways:

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Convert & Forget

If all you need is a working application and any further support and development is not really a priority to you, then there's a quick way to handle the migration. By making use of clever conversion tools (like Apache Royal or Adobe Animate), we can update your old application in no time. But there is a catch.

The downsides of taking this approach are:

  • The source code of the old project is required
  • Further development can often be painful
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Transform

If in addition to a working application, you would also require new functionality, it is better to re-develop the application while taking advantage of alternative technologies. This not only is a much more reliable process, but it is also the recommended plan of action. Our tech replacement chart above suggests potential alternatives.

The downsides of taking this approach are:

  • Higher costs of migration
  • A longer migration process

Is HTML5 Better than Flash? 5 Reasons to Migrate

Speed

HTML5 is fast and extremely lightweight, taking very little CPU time to fully render interactive content.

Security

Unlike Flash, HTML5 supports the encrypted HTTPS protocol, a huge motivator for Flash replacement.

Accessibility

HTML5 elements such as <audio> enable people with disabilities to access content with relative ease.

Support

Because HTML5 is open source, it will always be actively supported by a global online community.

Innovation

HTML5 is as sleek as it gets, combining flat elements and 3D effects to pulling content from various sources.

Migration from Flash to HTML5 — The SPG Process

Our goal is to make the migration process as painless as possible. We do this by identifying your objectives and priorities, which form the basis of our migration strategy.

Steps to Convert Your Flash-based Content to HTML5

When migrating from Flash Player to HTML5, converting content may at first seem like a daunting task — being both a time-consuming process and involving files that haven’t been touched in years. Yet the helpful tips presented below can help you devise a seamless conversion strategy:

How SPG Can Help You Deal With the End of Flash

  • Step 1

    Identify everything that will need to be converted and keep supporting files in a single location before attempting to replace Flash.

  • Step 2

    Prioritise your content. This step is important, as it will help shed light on the best approach for tackling the migration process. For instance, while some projects require a simple technological replacement, others may call for a complete overhaul in design.

  • Step 3

    Locate any included media (e.g. audio and image files) and extract them from your legacy product.

  • Step 4

    Evaluate your content’s primary purpose and determine whether it can be migrated with the help of simple conversion tools.

  • Step 5

    If no such simple solution exists, manual replacement might be required. Any presentations and video content will have to be delivered in a different format. This should call for a unique approach for every system.

  • Step 6

    Incorporate any extracted media from the legacy system into your brand new templates or appropriate counterparts.

  • Step 7

    Lastly, double-check everything works as expected by asking questions such as “did everything make it into the final product?” and “are all components communicating with one another?” This will help ensure that you have covered all your bases.

We can support you by:

  • Identifying the most suitable replacement technology
  • Devising a step-by-step migration strategy
  • Rebuilding your software solution with a better stack
  • Performing cross-platform testing to eliminate migration problems

Flash Migration Case Study – The FinTech Sector

The first wave of Flash migration was when the iPad was originally released. Back then, SPG made use of our expertise in both Flash and Flex to port a series of casual games to the iOS platform. We now provide our experience and knowledge to support businesses requiring Flash to HTML5 migration. See our recent case study below:

Get a quote from SPG today to learn more about Flash to HTML5 Migration

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Why Choose Our Flash to HTML5 Conversion Service

With the Adobe Flash end of life announcement, choosing the right migration team for your business has become a matter of utmost importance. Thankfully, with over 20 years of experience in software development, Software Planet Group are a surefire bet!

Have a great idea for web development or need a software development company to help you build your corporate web applications? Feel free to contact Software Planet Group today!

What Else We Could Help You With?

Did you know that SPG provide comprehensive services in software development, DevOps and Quality Assurance? Our software experts can handle anything from greenfield projects to complex legacy system renovations. We would be happy to advise you on the best approach and technological combination.

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