How to add a flash frontend?

Question

I have a client server application written in Java. Currently the server is Java based and the client side is a Java applet. I would like to know what techniques are possible to add a flash front end. There is a lot of presentation logic processed on the client side in the applet, and I essentially would like to just replace my rendering/painting mechanisms.
For backwards compatibility I still need to support the Java based front end.
I was thinking I need a mechanism where I can call for example a function such as view.showPopupWindow(popupMessage, onOkClickedCallbackCommand), where view is either a Java or a flash view which then knows how to display the graphical component respectively, and can communicate backwards when an action is performed on the GUI.
I would appreciate any advice or links that would help me further understand the issues related to the this task and possible solutions.
Thank you.

Answer 1

1. Split presentation layers
Your application will have one presentation layer with multiple implementations. Or in other words, views. For example, one might design an application to be accessed (viewed) from an HTML browser and also a standalone client application. Here you have only one presentation layer with two implementations. If you later designed a WAP interface for wireless phones, you would then have three implementations in the presentation layer.
2. Embed the flash movie and java applet in same window
If you wanted you could do this. I thought you wanted to replace the applet with a Shockeave component (Flash movie). You need to think about the presentation requirements a bit more.
3. Use http/javascript to communicate between flash and java
Not Javascript. You can send data variables and recieve data variables from the Shockwave component using something like a URL object in ActionScript. The GUI for writing ActionScript will guide you in this process. I can't remember. Been a long time :o)
Do you know what kind of dev environment would facilitate this type of development? Your environment would need to include a Macromedia Flash editor and a Java compiler and JRE.
Is it possible for example to have the flash side running and then launch the applet out of Eclipse for debugging or vicaversa (or something with a similar effect)If you are building a HTML page that contains both Shockwave and and applet, then no.
You need to create the HTML in one step. You cannot have the Shockwave component already running prior to creating the HTML page with the applet.
Having both a Shockwave component and an applet on the same page will be tricky, especially if you want them to communicate with each other. Remember, since you will be using HTTP requests, you will be serving up the same page with the response.