app that feels like a web page, not just a single-page JS app
I think this is a key point and is one reason that server-side approaches will be relevant for a long time to come. Some applications, such as Gmail and Pivotal Tracker, feel a lot like desktop apps, and heavy use of client-side code is a necessity in these cases. But many—I'd argue the vast majority—of web applications produce a better user experience when they feel like ordinary web pages. I don't see that changing any time soon.
yeah, I agree. actually I don't know if I'd agree on the "vast majority" part, but the question of "is client-side MVC The Future?" can get kind of silly and messianic, while the question of "is client-side MVC A Future?" is undoubtedly yes.
there's a lot you can do browser-side these days which would be insanely masochistic without client-side MVC, but that doesn't change the fact that lots of very useful apps run on the ordinary web pages model.
I think this is a key point and is one reason that server-side approaches will be relevant for a long time to come. Some applications, such as Gmail and Pivotal Tracker, feel a lot like desktop apps, and heavy use of client-side code is a necessity in these cases. But many—I'd argue the vast majority—of web applications produce a better user experience when they feel like ordinary web pages. I don't see that changing any time soon.