Currently, I work as an Application Developer proficient in Java, C, and C#, but I have yet to gain experience with any web-based languages.
My goal is to integrate an application into a webpage, possibly requiring access to a database located on the same server hosting the webpage.
Most importantly, I need support for client-side sockets, similar to Java's Socket class.
While implementing this using a Java applet would be straightforward, it appears that Java applets are not commonly utilized anymore, and require the installation of Java runtime on the client's machine.
JavaScript seems to be the most widely used option, but can it directly interact with the client's network?
Silverlight is emerging as a popular choice that may meet my requirements, but faces the same issue as Java applets (not guaranteed to be installed on client machines).
Are there any other alternatives that you would recommend?
Thank you for your assistance!