[web gaming] Java vs Flash

On the surface, Java is a lot more powerful than Flash. Flash, on the other hand, may be easier on beginners.

Java Pros:
- A powerful programming language and VM environment.
- Arguably faster rendering vs. Flash.
- Threading support.
- Excellent documentation (compared to Flash).

Java Cons:
- Performance on some systems/browsers isn't that great always.
- More dangerous (and treated as such by browsers).
- You really need to be a programmer to use it.
- You need a lot more "framework" to get rendering/input going.

Flash Pros:
- Designed specifically for graphics output (animations, movies, etc).
- Easy for beginners to venture into making games.
- Development-time visualization (time-line based development).
- Built-in, simple, resource management.
- AS3
- Supports 3D rendering (Flash Player 10+)

Flash Cons:
- Single threaded. No support for multithreading.
- Performance problems (inherent to Flash).
- Lackluster documentation.
- Terrible code editor (Adobe Flash CSx)
- Terrible debugging (Adobe Flash CSx)
- AS2. 'nuff said.
- A lot of quirks you need to get used to.

Once a wise man said - 

'From a programmer's perspective,I like Java better. From a designer's perspective, I like Flash better.    Personally, I hate both'.