Active Client-
Active Client is part of Microsoft’s Active Platform, which was a strategic framework introduced in the late 1990s to support the emerging needs of distributed computing and rich interactive applications over the web. The goal was to create a seamless, cross-platform experience where applications could run smoothly on different operating systems and devices while interacting with web servers and other networked resources.
Key Components and Features:
- HTML and Dynamic HTML (DHTML):
The Active Client supports standard web page technologies like HTML for structuring content and DHTML for making web pages interactive without requiring a full page reload. This allowed developers to build richer user interfaces. - Language-Independent Scripting:
Instead of tying applications to a single scripting language, Active Client supported multiple scripting languages, such as JavaScript or VBScript, giving developers flexibility and the ability to reuse code. - Java Applets:
Java applets are small Java programs that run inside a web browser or client environment. Active Client could host these applets, allowing for platform-independent, rich interactive features. - ActiveX Objects:
ActiveX controls are components used to add functionalities like multimedia, data handling, or device access on the client side. These could be embedded in web pages or client applications, extending their capabilities. - Operating System Independence:
Unlike many other Microsoft technologies that were Windows-only, Active Client was designed to run across multiple platforms — including Windows, UNIX, and Macintosh. This was crucial for businesses needing to support diverse computing environments.
Why Was Active Client Important?
- It anticipated the shift from simple static web pages to more interactive and distributed web applications.
- By supporting multiple platforms and scripting languages, it aimed to lower barriers for developers and users.
- It was part of a broader vision (Active Platform) that included technologies like Active Server Pages (ASP) and the Windows DNA (Distributed interNet Applications Architecture) model, which sought to streamline application development across client and server.
Limitations and Evolution
- Despite its ambitions, Active Client and related technologies like ActiveX faced challenges, including security concerns and the rise of more standardized, browser-native technologies.
- Over time, newer frameworks and standards (AJAX, HTML5, JavaScript frameworks) have largely replaced the original Active Platform components.