ColdFusion is a platform to create applications for both the internet and for smartphones. JavaScript is an objected oriented programming language that is used to make webpages interactive. On the following section, we will detail the advantages and disadvantages of both of them so you can get a brief overview of each one.
Pros of ColdFusion
- One of the main advantages of ColdFusion is that it has a fast learning curve in which a person can easily grasp the concepts and how to use it in a matter of just a few days or weeks. If the programmer knows HTML, then it is even easier to learn ColdFusion since the whole language is based on it.
- ColdFusion can be run on Java allowing the program being developed to function in a myriad of operative systems including Windows and Linux
- There is no need for a test server to write and execute a program written since it comes with an application made for that purpose
- ColdFusion is compatible with other Macromedia products. For instance it can easily and effortlessly be adapted to Dreamweaver, Flash, PDF, etc.
- ColdFusion can be used with the CFScript language which can be used to write code needed for dynamic websites.
- ColdFusion is constantly being redeveloped to improve its features. To this day, it has been updated 10 times and its aim has always been to make it easier and faster for the programmer to use it and implement it.
- ColdFusion is widely used with 75% of the Fortune 100 companies using it. Almost 1% of all websites use ColdFusion as its code language.
- Finding support for ColdFusion topics is very easy as there are many active people and websites available for that purpose.
- ColdFusion requires less code than virtually any other programming language. It is easy to read as well. The Custom Tags it has in it make it extremely easy to manage website templates.
Cons of ColdFusion
- ColdFusion is not an “open source” programming application. Its cost begins from almost $1,300 for the cheapest version and so on.
- ColdFusion’s advantage of being able to run in Java is also a disadvantage since this takes speed away from it. Although ColdFusion is classified as a rapid web development application, the reason previously stated makes it rather slower than some of its counterparts.
- A lot of criticism has been made regarding the poor programming that has been made with ColdFusion. This happens because the nature of ColdFusion of being an easy and fast programming language, programmers often sacrifice quality over quantity.
Pros of JavaScript
- JavaScript is fast. Being a client-side language, meaning that is executed on the user’s web browser instead of a web server, JavaScript is fast because it can be run right away as it doesn’t have to wait for a server to respond.
- It is easy to learn as its syntax resembles a lot the English language. There is also no need to reinvent the wheel as it has prewritten functions to objects on various pages which can be used to save time.
- JavaScript is very versatile. It can more or less fit other languages and applications. Moreover, it can be inserted in webpages and it can be written within other languages like PHP, etc.
- JavaScript also works in other platforms, such as Dreamweaver, Dashboards, Photoshop, PDF editors and so on.
Cons of JavaScript
- JavaScript is everything except secure. Due to it being a client-side language, anyone can write a program for evil purposes and affect other people’s computer systems. No wonder why there are many people who disable JavaScript on their PCs.
- Its output is not the same on all browsers. If the program or application isn’t tested on the most popular and the majority of web browsers, it can work correctly in the one it was developed for but it may go wrong on others. This is also caused by it client-side characteristic. This can create many problems and sometimes it upsets most programmers using this language for developing applications.
- It is not the most popular programming language today as it is used only in 0.1% of all websites developed in the world.
Resources
http://vschart.com/compare/coldfusion/vs/javascript
http://www.webtricks.com/code/coldfusion_javascript.cfm
http://w3techs.com/technologies/comparison/pl-coldfusion,pl-js
http://www.mediacollege.com/internet/javascript/pros-cons.html
http://www.jscripters.com/javascript-advantages-and-disadvantages/
http://coldfusion-development.blogspot.com/2009/03/advantages-and-disadvantages-of.html