HTML 5 Websockets will replace Comet?

Question

It looks like Websockets in HTML 5 will become a new standard for server push.

Does that mean the server push hack called Comet will be obsolete?

Is there a reas

Answer 1

In the medium term websockets won't replace comet solutions not only because of lack of browsers support but also because of HTTP Proxies. Until most of HTTP Proxies will be updated to support websockets connections, web developers will have to implement alternative solutions based on comet techniques to work in networks "protected" with this kind of proxies.

In the short/medium websockets will be just an optimization to be used when available, but you will still need to implement long-polling (comet) to rely on when websockets are not available if you need to make your website accessible for a lot of customers with networks/browsers not under your control.

Hopefully this will be abstracted by javascript frameworks and will be transparent for web developers.