There are some discussion in the mailing list on the topic of grouping/creating a "media"(or "graphic" or whatever) package. The aim is to create a unified abstract front-end graphic(including sound and video?) API.

Things to consider:

• API design/coverage
• Bitmap vs Vector
• HTML(div tags) vs Canvas vs SVG vs others
• Performance on individual platform

API design/coverage

Adoption of the flash API

Pros:

• Flash is the only current package having a complete graphic(and other media) API.
• Flash is one of the first target of haxe, so haxe developers are used to it.
• There is nme/neash/canvas-nme that already working on providing Flash API to other targets.

Cons:

• Flash's API was not considering 3D in the first place. Difficulties may exist if we want to provide good 3D performance.
• Flash's API is quite a lot. So more effort will be needed for developing new target of Haxe.

Minimal API

Pros:

• Less effort to develop.
• Make developing new target of Haxe easy.
• Easy to learn.

Cons:

• It will likely be lower-level, so a framework on top of it may be needed.
• It will likely be 2D only.

Adoption of other common graphic API (eg.OpenGL,Processing)

Pros:

• Since the API itself is widely used(outside the Haxe world), it may attract new comer.
• Possibly better API design consideration for 3D comparing to Flash.
• Possible to port existing libraries/frameworks to Haxe.

Cons:

• Need Flash implementation.
• Current Haxe user may find it unfamiliar.
• Need to consider where should the current Flash package goes.

HTML(div tags) vs Canvas/SVG/others

Front-end for the webpage design and front-end for apps are quite different. Whether it should be separated is another consideration.

May relay on plug-ins for advanced feature.

HTML(div tags)

Pros:

• Best accessibility and usability for the end-user.
• Best cross-browser/cross-platform support.

Cons:

• Many limitation on API functions. (eg.shapes, 3D, filters etc.)

Canvas/SVG/others

Pros:

• More possibilities than HTML
• Possible better performance if consider WebGL/O3D etc.

Cons:

• Poor cross-browser/cross-platform support. (eg. IE and mobiles).