When is AppDynamics Dumping Flash for HTML5?

[Mike.Prest]

Adobe has announced the end of Flash, yet AppDynamics is still requiring it. Why? Flash has a number of limitations including simple things like not copying text. Then there's the obvious problems with Flash security (Steve Jobs wrote about poor Flash security in 2010). 

So when will AppDynamics finally allow us to just use HTML5 for everything? "Partial" HTML5 is not a solution and sadly other companies like VMware still force us to use Flash.

https://docs.appdynamics.com/display/PRO43/Controller+UI+Overview
"The Controller UI requires Flash Player 10 or greater; AppDynamics recommends version 11"

[Atyuha.Pal]

Hi,

Based on the detail we got from the Product team: 

Regarding the complete migration of Controller UI to HTML, its an incremental process. 

As of now with the latest version of 4.3.x.x also we would have screens in Flash in the product. We are incrementally moving everything to HTML. However, due to the number of features/ screens in our product, this is a gradual yet steady transition.

Hence an accurate ETA is not available at the moment for the complete migration.

Hope this information helps.

Thanks,

Atyuha

[Mike.Prest]

So the Product team has no Roadmap with a Timetable??? People have been asking about this for several years.

Due to the security problems with Flash it's a hassle to run Flash in browsers. We have to create exceptions just to access Flash sites now.

At least VMware has an HTML5 program (VM Flings) so that customers can start to use the full HTML5 client for vCenter. Perhaps AppDynamics should do the same so we can finally stop using Flash for AppD. It's long overdue.

[Atyuha.Pal]

Hi,

appreciate your concern and feedback. Please be assured that this is on the Product team Radar however we do not have a set time table as of now when this will be addressed but it is a known item and would be addressed in our subsequent releases.
Thanks again for your feedback
Atyuha

[Anuranjan.Kumar]

HI Team, 

I am also stuck at this Flash error point,

Is there any work around to resolve the issue??

Thanks & Regards,

Anuranjan Kunar

[richard.muse]

A work around would be nice, if not an outright fix. The best I can find is to run Microsoft Edge browser at this point. (It really hurts to even say that name.) It will allow the pages to display. FireFox, Chrome, and Canary all fail since they have removed flash support. Sometimes they give the error message, sometimes they just sit and hang not doing anything except spinning.

[Jeanie.Kedia]

@richard.muse @Anuranjan.Kumar -

The AppDynamics Product team is continuing to work on incrementally migrating to HTML. While we await complete fix: Please post in the community, if you have questions and let us know how we may help with workarounds until this is no longer an issue. 

Here are two knowledge base articles for dealing with Flash, one in Chrome and the other in Safari regarding reports. 

https://community.appdynamics.com/t5/Knowledge-Base/How-do-I-install-Flash-in-Chrome/ta-p/31391

https://community.appdynamics.com/t5/Knowledge-Base/What-is-the-workaround-for-exporting-on-demand-r...

We are happy to help you troubleshoot further issues, please start a new thread. Thanks. 

[Jeanie.Kedia]

AppDynamics Product Management would like to further reinforce: 

"We are working on this fix right now. Removing flash from our product is one of the top priorities of the company and we are using ~40% of the company's front-end engineers to speed the work along. Nearly all of the remaining ~25 flash screens and modals are done and we are working on testing and bug fixing them."

[Jeanie.Kedia]

As of the November 2018 Release (v4.5.4) the following update has been made on our priority to remove Flash: https://community.appdynamics.com/t5/Knowledge-Base/Product-Update-November-2018-v4-5-4/ta-p/34805#F...

Removal of Adobe Flash-Based Screens

Removal of Adobe flash-based screens continues to be a priority within the product. We are releasing three converted screens (listed below) as part of v4.5.4 and expect to convert many more in the next few releases.    

• Snapshot list → Identify Expensive Methods and SQL Statements
• Instrumentation → Data Collectors List page
• App Server Agent Configuration Modal 

[Jeanie.Kedia · Accepted solution]

Flash has been disabled in the product with the v4.5.11 Controller upgrade. Please post specific followup questions regarding this in a new discussion thread.

For additional reference, please see end of life notice for "Flex2HTML effort" here>>

https://docs.appdynamics.com/display/PRO45/4.5.x+AppDynamics+Application+Performance+Management+Plat...

Kind Regards,

Jeanie

^ Post was edited by @Ryan.Paredez to provide an update link to the Platform Notes