If you are currently working in the web development or web design field you know that in the last five to ten years we have seen a major paradigm shift in regards to the development of websites. We have moved from one school of thought to another. This has been a transition driven mainly by technological advances and consumer demand. For example, Adobe Dreamweaver’s good ol’ crutch, the template file (.dwt), has been beaten out by Content Management Systems and other database driven sites. I can even argue that Contribute, largely built around websites that were made with Dreamweaver, has also been obliterated by CMS like WordPress. Action Script, the “Flash code”, and Flash in general has been taken by storm by Apple’s domination of the mobile market. All the major internet media outlets, YouTube, Last.fm, Pandora, have also moved or are in the process of moving away from Flash entirely. This means that from the web consumer, to the website owners, to the website creators, we are all moving together in a new direction.

So, how exactly are users generating momentum for this paradigm shift?

The truth is, with CMS, PHP, HTML5, CSS3 and javaScript this old school of thought driven by .dwt and Flash is over. Now that PHP, HTML, and CSS can do the work of action script and even javaScript, there is no need to run websites that need to install flash video player, or any external library. Web users across the world have decided that this is unreasonable and now, unnecessary to enjoy their web experience. And why not? This is a world built upon convenience and I think Apple knows a little about this.

How are website owners generating momentum for this paradigm shift?

Mainly based on the reality that a customer (user in this case) knows best. But, we can also argue that this shift is also driven by the need to minimize site maintenance and cost. Thanks to Content Management Systems, site admins can spend less time updating their sites. When an entire site can be modified in a browser and their is no need to purchase expensive software like Dreamweaver or Contribute, site owners are saving time and money. Even if they decide to hire a developer to work on their site, this process, at all ends of the spectrum, has been made easier by CMS.

How are developers generating momentum for this paradigm shift?

Simply put, developers like to stay at the front-end (pun intended) of technology. During a transition period in technological advances, a working professional is forced to be knowledgeable in the old as well as the new paradigm. This can be said for any career that is advancing with tech. Unfortunately, for developers, this is a hyper reality. We are flooded constantly with coding and scripting language updates, new browsers, browser updates, new social media, the dreaded FBML (Facebook Markup), faster computers, faster mobile, faster tablets, updates to jQuery and other libraries, constant core updates for CMS, and the list goes on! This paradigm shift means old is old and not worth learning, and we now devote our time to the new. Eventually, sites will be driven by only a CMS backed by PHP, HTML5, and CSS3. We no longer need to learn javaScript, ActionScript, Dreamweaver, Contribute. As a developer I look forward to then end of IE6-IE8, old scripting languages, and flat out boring websites.

When will this shift reach the tipping point?

We are close. Once Microsoft stops supporting IE7-IE8 and the general populous moves away from old browsers, the shift will be done. In addition, we know we are close when creative software companies like Adobe start making software to create websites in the new paradigm. And I don’t mean another fancy script editor like Dreamweaver. This new software has to include drag-and-drop UI’s, code generators, the new CMS-like template designs, and advanced publishing techniques. This software has to make the job of a front-end developer look easy. As you can already guess, this day is right around the corner.

Adobe has been hard at work creating two new beta programs, Muse and Edge. They seem to include everything you could ever want in a modern development/design interface and it looks easy to use. In Edge, we see reminders of the Flash timeline and in Muse, we see reminders of the Dreamweaver Template. It seems we have went from Dreamweaver and Flash to Muse and Edge.

Muse (Code Name) Official Site

Muse is geared more towards entire website design, creation, and management. The program starts in a sitemap view and lets you build an entire site in a user interface. This program seems to be the replacement for Dreamweaver.  Be sure to check out all the videos and features tabs in the main navigation of the site.

Muse Features, Muse Showcase

Edge Adobe Labs Site

Compared to Muse, Edge is geared for complex animations within a site. It reminds me of After Effects, but for the web. This includes animated titles, moving shadows, interactive elements, and other actions all done in HTML5, CSS3, and javaScript. Check out the links below for examples of what is possible with Edge.

Example 1, Example 2, Example 3

Feel free to post your comments below.  I know this can be  a touchy subject for some (goodbye Flash), so let your voice be heard!