ColdFusion

Adobe ColdFusion is one of first purpose-created web development languages, released in 1995 and currently in its 8^th version.

beyond the fact that we have used ColdFusion since version 1.5, we have always found ColdFusion to be an easy environment to develop in. Compared to other languages like PHP and Java, we find projects in ColdFusion are developed faster and easier, and with each new version the improvements to the language have only enhanced this.

another important factor is that this is a commercially-supported language. The source company, Adobe, is a highly respected entity, and has dedicated itself to ensuring that their reputation as a reliable, technically advanced company is reflected in this very robust product.

finally, we realize that one of the most important and ubiquitous 'rich' content mediums for the Internet is Adobe Flash. Because Adobe has developed both ColdFusion and Flash, progressive releases of the two technologies have increased their cross-integration and shared power. The so called 'Rich Application Interface', or RIA, is the way web applications will move, and Flash (and it's very important new partner, Adobe Flex) will be instrumental in guiding the way the web looks and feels over the next decade.

CF is a very robust, mature programming language, supported both by one of the largest software companies in the world and by a diverse, established programming community. Key components that make ColdFusion an ideal programming tool are:

• enterprise-level support
• its tight integration with Adobe Flash and Flex
• powerful Adobe PDF tools
• sophisticated web gateway communication protocols for supporting such things as SMS
• integrated text indexing of more than 150 document types
• large 3^rd party libraries
• its ability to use Java/JSP/.Net libraries

all of these features, plus many more, are available 'right out of the box', compared to other languages which require 3^rd-party products (commercial and free) to gain the same range of functionality.