AJAX is great for many applications, but not for all. When applications get large, need to scale, or require superior security, Java-based Rich Internet Applications (RIA) are preferable. There is a simple reason for this: Java offers the most advanced, most standardized, and most reliable cross-platform UI technology by far.

Designed for full-fledged desktop applications, client-side Java outclasses AJAX in terms of functionality, stability, performance, and security. There is only one issue with conventional Java clients: they don't fit into a web architecture, despite Applets and Java Web Start. A solution for this issue is Java RIA technology. This technology bridges the gap between Java's rich UI components and a server-side web architecture, leveraging both the advantages of client-side Java and server-side application management.

Industrial strength thus becomes feasible for enterprise applications, as well as new generation Web 2.0 applications and sophisticated mashups.