Which Web Mapping API Should I Choose? Silverlight, Flex Or JavaScript?

I get asked this question loads and as such I have been meaning to get around to writing a post providing some pointers on how to go about choosing one of the Web Mapping API’s. The good thing is Sterling has saved me the time in doing so and has responded to this question with some questions of his own.

So the Web Mapping API’s available at the moment include:

ArcGIS API for Microsoft Silverlight/WPF
ArcGIS API for Flex
ArcGIS API for JavaScript

Note that these are different to the ADF’s that ship with ArcGIS Server 9.3.1. The ADF’s are available in .NET and Java.

Some of the questions asked:

• Which platform are your developers most comfortable with?
• What’s the experience level of your developers?
• Are browser plug-ins an option?
• Do you want to use an IDE? If so, which one?
• Do you need to edit features over the Web?
• Do you need to overlay basemaps from Microsoft or Google?
• Are you more comfortable with established technologies or emerging technologies?
• Have you talked with others who have made this decision?

Stirling goes on to talk about each of these points, expanding on how you should answer these. This is a great starting point when you are thinking of which Web Mapping API you should choose. Stirling’s write up can be found here: http://blogs.esri.com/Dev/blogs/… These are some of the questions you should be asking yourself.