My original thoughts of framework technologies or add in technologies around NS4/IE5 was they were to improve and add abilities and overcome shortfalls that live script and javascript did not posses by getting some assistance from parts of the browser that couldbe manipulated by a programmer e.g. .DLL or binaries of another OS type. If you look at Microsoft OS, that has a barer programmer and platform only system called Active Objects that can be created and added to the registry, you realise that these are another attempt to simplify the process coding of internet site applications. The systems you are mentioning here are akin metaphorically to being in CPU higher language programming and ActiveX or IDL-CORBA/Java2 or at the browser level XUL/XBL XPCOM for Netscape/Firefox/SeaMonkey/Mozilla or Microsoft .HTA are all lower or intermediate language level. Ajax is an example of the evolution and improvement of automated services from a client operated perspective, for inter operation / exchange of data. In my opinion from assessment of Flex and JavaFX and Silverlight (somewhat a skim but knowing their final intent and some in depth underpinnings) they are another FLASH system but with greater oriency to process and SOA. for client server interaction. There is no actual way out of knowing the base processes (e.g. CGI specifications / mail SMTP protocol specs e.t.c. , XML/XSLT Scema/DTD entities AJAX and an appropriate CGI language (e.g. PERL PHP or Java)) to create web applications, particularly effective and accurate ones. Is it little wonder that bank tellers use a monochrome screen in 2008 not FLASH. »