Nils Millahn, Technical Director of DN Digital in Shoreditch, London, shares his views on HTML 5, the future of web design, the death (or not) of Flash and much more. This article was taken from an interview for a magazine that will go to print in November.
Is Flash Dead?
That’s the question everybody is asking. As a company specialising in complex Flash and Flex applications, the death of Flash would of course be a major blow! At the centre of our industry however, the picture looks very different. The market is extremely buoyant, demand is as high as ever and good developers are hard to find.
So what is really going on? The surge to replace Flash is taking place under the banner of open standards but the extreme positions of various parties suggest that there are different motivations at play. Flash has been tremendously successful for over a decade and I see current events as the natural rhythm of development styles, power games and business interests.
Why is HTML5 significant?
HTML5 may not yet be ready for mass-market consumer deployment but the mobile arena is very different. On devices guaranteed to have compatible browsers, HTML5 is a life-saver. And not because it replaces Flash but because it replaces the need to develop mobile apps for different platforms. While HTML is accessible to many, Objective-C and Java are a different kettle of fish.
So perhaps we should be asking “Is HTML5 going to be the death of mobile apps?”. Less likely when you see who is holding the purse strings… But it is in mobile that the main focus will remain and in mobile that key developments and innovation in HTML5 will occur.
What should I learn next?
For individuals, it’s very straightforward: First, pick an area that you enjoy. If you create fantastic animations at night, there is no point in working in a cubicle during the daytime. Second, focus on core skills. Learn your craft. Solid foundations and a deep understanding will always be sought after and can be transferred to other industry branches very quickly.
For companies, my advice would sound a little different. Identify the core technologies that your business will require over the next year. Now is the time to start training your in-house team, for example in HTML5. Stay slightly ahead of the curve at all times. It keeps your staff happy but can also save you money because you’re not forced to rely on expensive freelancers due to lack of in-house skills.
Also bear in mind that everybody learns differently – we offer external or in-house training courses for example but also supplement that with written and video tutorials (some available for free on our blog and YouTube) and this mix of training techniques seems to work well.
We run a range of Actionscript and HTML5 training courses:
Our next course is:
HTML5 – The definitive Course- 20th/21st September.
Book now on : training@dndigital.net or http://html5-september.eventbrite.com/
Price: £399 (student price £198)
Location: London/Shoreditch
Hello: 020 7749 3770
Who is the course for? http://dndigital.net/training/html5/
What can you expect? http://dndigital.net/training/html5/
WE KNOW WHAT YOU NEED.