Shortcomings And Restrictions of RIAs

Despite of having flair advantage over the standard web application, RIAs have several shortcomings and restrictions too. These are:

1- Sandbox

As RIAs run within a sandbox, so the correct operation of sandbox is necessary to run RIA successfully. If assumptions about access to resources are incorrect, RIAs may fail to operate correctly that restricts access to system resources.

2- Disabled scripting

For running RIAs, any scripting language includes JavaScript is usually essential. In case of disabled active scripting in the browser, there is no functioning in RIA.

3- Client processing speed

Some Rich Internet Applications uses client-side scripts written in interpreted language that moderate the performance speed, while compiled client language in traditional application have no relation with speed.

4- Script download time

If user downloads any document, it has to be transferred at least once from the website to the system’s cache memory. Though the downloaded document does not need to be installed on the system, yet it sometimes takes unexpected long time. RIA developers can reduce the delay time by compressing the scripts, and by staging their delivery over multiple pages of an application.

5- Loss of visibility to search engines

Search engines may not be able to index the text content of the application.

6- Dependence on an Internet connection

Like traditional Web Application, RIA also needs internet connectivity; the speed of RIA operation also depends upon the network connection. An ideal network connection is usually suitable for running RIA smoothly, otherwise it may cause of headache.

7- Management complications

Traditional Web applications are simpler because of having only standard HTML built-in format while the initiation of RIA technologies had make it more complex and difficult to handle. The

additional complexity of RIA makes them harder to design, test, measure, and support. These complications elongate the software development process, despite of the particular methodology or process being employed. Due to its sluggish processing, it becomes difficult to test the applications and incomplete testing lowers the application’s quality and its reliability while using.