Difference between pages "Amiga line" and "Flash"
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{{Infobox console | {{Infobox console | ||
| − | |title = | + | |title = Adobe Flash |
| − | |logo = | + | |logo = |
| − | | | + | |developer = Adobe |
| − | | | + | |type = |
| − | | | + | |generation = |
| − | |release = | + | |release = 1996 |
| − | |discontinued = | + | |discontinued = 2020 |
| + | |predecessor = | ||
|emulated = {{✓}} | |emulated = {{✓}} | ||
}} | }} | ||
| + | {{WIP}} | ||
| + | '''Flash''' (previously FutureSplash Animator, before that SmartSketch) is a software platform created by FutureWave Software, and currently owned by Adobe (previously Macromedia). Originally a drawing program for PenPoint OS, later ported to Windows and Macintosh when pen computing failed to take off, frame-by-frame animation features were added to it in a new program called FutureSplash Animator. The company was acquired by Macromedia in December 1996, rebranding FutureSplash Animator to Flash, an amalgamation of "Future" and "Splash". In turn, Macromedia was acquired by Adobe on December 3, 2005. Their operations, networks, and customer care organizations were merged shortly after. | ||
| − | + | Used by an overwhelming majority of websites in the early 2000s to the mid-2010s, Flash has been the go-to platform for multimedia and animation, being utilised for streaming video providers such as YouTube, children's websites due to its rich content, and has spawned a subculture of animators as exemplified by the likes of Newgrounds. A number of popular animated series were also animated using Flash, most notably ''My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic'', ''Phineas and Ferb'' and ''Happy Tree Friends'' to name a few. | |
| − | + | Flash's popularity declined in the late 2010s due to the rise of alternative (and open) web standards such as HTML5 and mobile device manufacturers dropping support for the platform, a prominent example being Apple who publicly stated that iOS will ''never'' support Flash. Google followed suit when it dropped support for the platform in subsequent Android releases, and it didn't help that a series of security issues, coupled with Flash itself being a closed standard, has led Adobe to wind down on Flash and retire it in 2020. | |
| − | + | ==Implementations== | |
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| − | == | ||
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;" | {| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;" | ||
! scope="col"|Name | ! scope="col"|Name | ||
! scope="col"|Platform(s) | ! scope="col"|Platform(s) | ||
| − | ! scope="col"|Latest | + | ! scope="col"|Latest version |
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! scope="col"|<abbr title="Free/Libre and Open-Source Software">FLOSS</abbr> | ! scope="col"|<abbr title="Free/Libre and Open-Source Software">FLOSS</abbr> | ||
! scope="col"|Active | ! scope="col"|Active | ||
! scope="col"|[[Recommended Emulators|Recommended]] | ! scope="col"|[[Recommended Emulators|Recommended]] | ||
|- | |- | ||
| − | + | |[https://ruffle.rs/ Ruffle] | |
| − | + | |align=left|{{Icon|Windows|Linux|macOS|Web}} | |
| − | + | |[https://github.com/ruffle-rs/ruffle/releases Nightly builds] | |
| − | + | |{{✓}} ||{{✓}} ||{{✓}} | |
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| − | |align=left|{{Icon|Windows|Linux|macOS| | ||
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| − | |[https://github.com/ | ||
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| − | | | + | |[https://lightspark.github.io/ Lightspark] |
| − | |align=left|{{Icon| | + | |align=left|{{Icon|Windows|Linux|Web}}<ref group=N name=plugin>Web version is not OS-agnostic and requires a browser with support for Flash plugins.</ref> |
| − | |[ | + | |[https://github.com/lightspark/lightspark/releases 0.8.3] |
| − | |{{ | + | |{{✓}} ||{{✓}} ||{{~}} |
|- | |- | ||
| − | | | + | |[https://swf2js.com/en/ swf2js] |
| − | |align=left|{{Icon| | + | |align=left|{{Icon|Web}} |
| − | |[https:// | + | |[https://github.com/swf2js/swf2js JavaScript file download] |
| − | |{{ | + | |{{✓}} ||{{✗}} ||{{~}} |
|- | |- | ||
| − | | | + | |Adobe Flash Player |
| − | |align=left|{{Icon| | + | |align=left|{{Icon|Windows|Linux|macOS|Web}}<ref group=N name=plugin /> |
| − | |[https:// | + | |[https://www.adobe.com/support/flashplayer/debug_downloads.html 32.0.0.465] |
| − | |{{✗}} | + | |{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} |
|- | |- | ||
| − | + | |[https://gnu.org/software/gnash GNU Gnash] | |
| + | |align=left|{{Icon|Windows|Linux}} | ||
| + | |[https://www.gnu.org/software/gnash/download.html 0.8.10] | ||
| + | |{{✓}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} | ||
|- | |- | ||
| − | | | + | |[https://open-flash.github.io/ Open Flash / Doμ Player] |
| − | |align=left|{{Icon| | + | |align=left|{{Icon|Web}} |
| − | |[https:// | + | |[https://github.com/open-flash/domu-player Git] |
| − | |{{ | + | |{{✓}} ||{{✓}} ||{{✗}} |
|- | |- | ||
| − | | | + | |[https://mozilla.github.io/shumway/ Shumway] |
| − | |align=left|{{Icon| | + | |align=left|{{Icon|Web}} |
| − | |[https:// | + | |[https://github.com/mozilla/shumway Git] |
| − | |{{ | + | |{{✓}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} |
|} | |} | ||
| + | <references group=N /> | ||
| − | == | + | ===Comparisons=== |
| − | + | ;Ruffle | |
| − | + | :A Rust implementation that compiles to, among other systems, WebAssembly. This allows Ruffle to be directly hosted by websites without the need for anything to be installed client-side. The devs state it has ActionScript 1 and 2 support, with AS3 support coming later, estimated to be several months. Being sponsored by Newgrounds, it has progressed to the point where it can play the original Flash version of [https://www.newgrounds.com/portal/view/59593/format/flash?emulate=flash Alien Hominid], many early Flash games, and the vast majority of [https://old.homestarrunner.com Homestar Runner] toons. | |
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| − | + | ;Lightspark | |
| − | + | :A C++ implementation. Says it has 78% of the APIs covered. | |
| − | + | ;swf2js | |
| − | + | :An open-core HTML5 implementation that uses a dynamic recompiler. The open-source "Free Version" supports limited features, such as AS1, AS2 and ZLIB compression, whereas the payware "Production Version" supports further features, such as AS3 and LZMA compression. | |
| − | + | ;Adobe Flash Player | |
| − | + | :The official closed-source implementation by Adobe. It was discontinued in 2020. | |
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| − | + | ;Gnash | |
| − | + | :Another C++ implementation. Focuses on older versions of Flash that Lightspark is less likely to support properly, hence why Lightspark can use Gnash as an automatic fallback if both are installed simultaneously. | |
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| − | + | ;Shumway | |
| − | + | :An HTML5 implementation. It was sponsored by Mozilla but later abandoned. | |
| − | == | + | ==See also== |
| − | + | * [[Flashpoint]] - preservation effort for games designed in commercial web frameworks (not just Flash). | |
| − | * | ||
| − | [[Category: | + | [[Category:Not really emulators]] |
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Revision as of 06:50, 1 November 2021
| Developer | Adobe |
|---|---|
| Release date | 1996 |
| Discontinued | 2020 |
| Emulated | ✓ |
Flash (previously FutureSplash Animator, before that SmartSketch) is a software platform created by FutureWave Software, and currently owned by Adobe (previously Macromedia). Originally a drawing program for PenPoint OS, later ported to Windows and Macintosh when pen computing failed to take off, frame-by-frame animation features were added to it in a new program called FutureSplash Animator. The company was acquired by Macromedia in December 1996, rebranding FutureSplash Animator to Flash, an amalgamation of "Future" and "Splash". In turn, Macromedia was acquired by Adobe on December 3, 2005. Their operations, networks, and customer care organizations were merged shortly after.
Used by an overwhelming majority of websites in the early 2000s to the mid-2010s, Flash has been the go-to platform for multimedia and animation, being utilised for streaming video providers such as YouTube, children's websites due to its rich content, and has spawned a subculture of animators as exemplified by the likes of Newgrounds. A number of popular animated series were also animated using Flash, most notably My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic, Phineas and Ferb and Happy Tree Friends to name a few.
Flash's popularity declined in the late 2010s due to the rise of alternative (and open) web standards such as HTML5 and mobile device manufacturers dropping support for the platform, a prominent example being Apple who publicly stated that iOS will never support Flash. Google followed suit when it dropped support for the platform in subsequent Android releases, and it didn't help that a series of security issues, coupled with Flash itself being a closed standard, has led Adobe to wind down on Flash and retire it in 2020.
Implementations
| Name | Platform(s) | Latest version | FLOSS | Active | Recommended |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ruffle |    
|
Nightly builds | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Lightspark | [N 1]
|
0.8.3 | ✓ | ✓ | ~ |
| swf2js |
|
JavaScript file download | ✓ | ✗ | ~ |
| Adobe Flash Player | [N 1]
|
32.0.0.465 | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ |
| GNU Gnash |
|
0.8.10 | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ |
| Open Flash / Doμ Player |
|
Git | ✓ | ✓ | ✗ |
| Shumway |
|
Git | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ |
Comparisons
- Ruffle
- A Rust implementation that compiles to, among other systems, WebAssembly. This allows Ruffle to be directly hosted by websites without the need for anything to be installed client-side. The devs state it has ActionScript 1 and 2 support, with AS3 support coming later, estimated to be several months. Being sponsored by Newgrounds, it has progressed to the point where it can play the original Flash version of Alien Hominid, many early Flash games, and the vast majority of Homestar Runner toons.
- Lightspark
- A C++ implementation. Says it has 78% of the APIs covered.
- swf2js
- An open-core HTML5 implementation that uses a dynamic recompiler. The open-source "Free Version" supports limited features, such as AS1, AS2 and ZLIB compression, whereas the payware "Production Version" supports further features, such as AS3 and LZMA compression.
- Adobe Flash Player
- The official closed-source implementation by Adobe. It was discontinued in 2020.
- Gnash
- Another C++ implementation. Focuses on older versions of Flash that Lightspark is less likely to support properly, hence why Lightspark can use Gnash as an automatic fallback if both are installed simultaneously.
- Shumway
- An HTML5 implementation. It was sponsored by Mozilla but later abandoned.
See also
- Flashpoint - preservation effort for games designed in commercial web frameworks (not just Flash).
