It's amazing how - I think at least - the web is moving away from framework based technologies to HTML, CSS and Javacsript as primary sources. Indeed, Windows 8 is pushing support for such technologies and actually supporting a move away from framework based technologies to the HCJ combo. Even now with the popularity of HTML5 API's and NodeJS - the push away from traditional frameworks is becomming evident. Just look at Silverlight/Flash as sources of this - MSFT touted Silverlight as the "new future" and now its all but giving it the big middle finger.

Is this a good thing ? I think that Google and Apple are intent on killing Microsoft and Adobe respectively and they believe the best way is to strike at their respective hearts is by reducing their core platform reliance. I'm not necessarily of the view this is the best way forward, and data security and privacy laws having a long way to go before we all start using "Chrome Books". I just sometimes wonder whether Google/Apple self-interest in pushing ahead HTML5 is, and will, benefit the developer community as a whole in development of web technologies or rather create some sort of HCJ hybrid "gadget" '@web application@' community.

Further, I'm not always convinced that writing lines of HTML5 and Javascript will replace the eons of work [flagrant exaggeration intended] that has gone into traditional languages. Just like the HTML4 spec, it will be a while before the HTML5 spec is "truly adopted". A simple DocType switch and you're "technically" in HTML5.

"The HTML5 boom is coming. Fast" - maybe it is, but I don't know whether that represents the "super exciting" future we all dream of - or whether it represents a flood of new poor constructed web technologies aiming to be the next "Facebook". Call me a cynic - I just think we need to preserve our roots as much as we do need to forge a better web future.