I decided to go ahead replace the Flash header at the top with the Kwicks JavaScript version after I ironed out the kinks. The menu now works in IE and the whole width of the menu tabs is clickable.
The whole thing validates and is smaller than the original Flash version.
Depreciated, the header was for my old site. An example will be added soon.
For the most part people tend to use a mix of JavaScript and Flash to construct visual site effects CSS and HTML can’t provide alone. However, with the advent of JavaScript libraries allowing easy access to JS based effects, the playing field has tipped to using one method or another. JS libraries are not without detractors; for example, “Why JavaScript libraries stink” points out that “1. Most libraries are bloated. The user may load a full library for effect, but in many cases the effect could be achieved in a few lines of code.” A valid point and I’ll leave the libraries debate open for now but remember that the Flash browser plug-in is not a built in component of any browser and cannot be customized to load only what is needed. All major browsers support JS natively and in recent months there has been a push to claim the JavaScript speed crown. Another reason to consider using only JS? The emerging mobile phone market. Even my now discontinued SGH-A717 runs JS.
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