Forrester Report Says Developers Are Continuing to Turn to HTML5
Here at TechWell, we’ve been consistently covering the latest developments in HTML5 because this relatively new markup language seems to show no signs of slowing down in regards to the number of users crafting away. Now, according to a new Forrester report, as ZDNet notes, developers are increasingly turning to HMTL5 hybrid app building instead of working with native apps.
Liam Tung of ZDNet writes about the Forrester report (which you can read if you are willing to spend a couple of thousand dollars) and concludes that the appeal of a “lower cost of maintaining a common code base using HTML5 code in a native app container” is enough to cause developers to make the switch, even though working with a native app could entail a smoother process.
From ZDNet:
Based on responses from 478 developers in North America and Europe, Forrester found developers were spending 41 percent of their time on a native app approach, 24 percent of their time on mobile web, and 22 percent of their time on hybrid apps.
The analyst expects developers of consumer-facing apps to lead with a native app approach, while those building enterprise apps will move toward web and hybrid deployments.
Additionally, with more developers needing to support the enormous number of different screen sizes found on countless devices as well as dealing with multiple browsers, developers are finding that coding with HTML5 makes life a bit easier. Tung explains, “Amongst a pool of 919 software developers, Forrester found that 55 percent are using HTML5 and on average they test their output against five browsers.”
What’s interesting is that growth in HTML5 use has been increasing steadily during the past year. Consider the following 2012 interview with Zencoder Inc.’s co-founder Steve Heffernan, in which he shares his thoughts on the state of HTML5 and speculates that the markup language could soon have the same user support as Flash.
This brings us back to our present day and Wired reporting on how HTML5 may be growing in an area other than just app building—it could change the way games are being developed and how they are played in the cloud.
With the use of WebGL, which Wired says “is a new standard in HTML5 that allows games to gain access to hardware acceleration,” cloud-based games built on HTML5 could benefit from the power of a user’s local computer to improve graphics and speed instead of relying on only the power of the developers’ servers and other limitations.
From Wired:
WebGL powered HTML5 leverages local (cheap) computing power, and not (expensive) server hardware. With the introduction of WebGL, HTML5 games can take advantage of local hardware just like native games, thus maximizing the local computational power available.
WebGL powered HTML5 does not require that much bandwidth during gameplay. Since the game assets are downloaded (pre-cached) before and during gameplay, even modest speed internet connections suffice.
Although we are still a ways from developers flocking to build cloud-based games using HTML5, the future of gaming looks promising for the markup language.
Do you think HTML5 will continue to grow, or is this markup language just hype?
