Why ArcGIS Onine

Question

Hi,
I am new to web application development. I do not understand the benefits of ArcGIS Online over ArcGIS Server.
Can someone who has been through this process answer the question?
Why someone should choose one over the other?. I could not see much discussion on this. Thanks.

JoseSanchez · Answer

Hi all,

What I do not understand very well is how easy is it to customize an existing online marketplace application , for example Esri Insights is a JavaScript-based web app, can I configure or customize it adding buttons, panels and other specific  features such as tracing needed in my organization?

http://marketplace.arcgis.com/listing.html?id=fef73db0214f4ab9b98b06e645b962f9

Thanks

DerekLaw · Answer

Hi there, ... I do not understand the benefits of ArcGIS Online over ArcGIS Server. ... Why someone should choose one over the other? ...

Comparing ArcGIS Online versus ArcGIS for Server is like comparing "apples to oranges". They are not competing products, but are complementary products.

ArcGIS Online is a map-centric content management system that provides a framework for sharing and collaboration of GIS content.
ArcGIS for Server enables you to publish your GIS resources as web services.

There is some overlapping functionality - but they should not be thought of as directly comparable products.

FYI, please watch this video on ArcGIS Deployment Patterns to learn more.

Hope this helps,

TRUEFALSE · Answer

Thank you rlwatson,
It is clear from what you said that there are some difference interms of functionalities. Is there any table to compare what ArcGIS Online offers and what it doesn't offer in comparision with ArcGIS Server. If some one has process intensive operations which one is better. Example you can use a webservice to carry process intensive tasks at server level in ArcGIS Server. Can we do the same with ArcGIS online. Would there be any issues such as security, sability and performance? I could not find any elaborate discussion on this.
I see ESRI is promoting aggressively to push every one to ArcGIS Online. All I know is that ArcGIS online is more of creating web GIS applications, with ease, that involve sharing maps over the internet.  Also what is future of ArcGIS Server? Is it eventually going to phase out as more fuctionalities are provided to ArcGIS online?  I am wondering how it would impact on the developers and users of these products.  These products are expensive and takes lots of time and money. Having a good understanding will help to choose whether to stick with ArcGIS Server or ArcGIS Online.