CNet has a nice article talking about how Google is using Javascript + XML to develop their rich web based applications, such as Gmail or Google Maps. Lesser developers might’ve used Flash or a Java applet to create Maps, but Google has shown that it is possible to create compelling applications with just simple old school javascript, xml, and a bit of creativity. The technologies that Google uses, as the article states, all have been around for quite some time, and people are refering to it as AJAX, which means “Asynchronous JavaScript + XML”.

Does this mean we are going to see more and more web based applications, and less desktop only applications? In my opinion, yes and no. Yes, I do think more web based applications will appear, especially as web developers start to get a better grasp of how to bring traditional desktop applications onto a web based platform. Who needs Outlook when Gmail does everything so much better, and most importantly more conviently? Additionally, end users in general are getting used to the fact that they can access their web based email (like GMail) from any Internet connection and have instant access to their email history. I think people will start to demand this type of convenience in the future with other information based applications as well.

On the other hand, web based applications will never completely replace desktop applications, as the article mentions. Using the web browser as a platform to build rich and dynamic applications presents too many hurdles and limitations. Web browsers today are still generally a mish-mash of competing technologies that complicate development. For example, there’s at least two competing standards for taking web forms to the next level (like built-in validation and error checking). Vector graphics are pretty much limited to Flash, which then locks you into Macromedia. Then you have the problem of supporting mutliple browsers on multiple operating systems that all have their own specific bugs and quirks. For these reasons, and many many more, you sure arn’t going to see a web based Photoshop or even a web based Office suite any time soon.

In anycase, I’m pretty excited to see how Google is pushing the envelope for rich web based applications. Google Maps is one of those “Why didn’t I think of that before” applications that seems so obvious in hindsight.