Viz Pilot Edge moves into the future with modern web technology

For users, it means a slick and smart interface that is faster, more responsive and more flexible

Another look at the new Viz Pilot Edge 3 interface.

By Bjørn Ullevoldsæter, Product Owner Viz Pilot Edge

Vizrt has taken a major step into futureproofing newsroom graphics production with the release of Viz Pilot Edge 3. Modern web technology combined with a new and more intuitive interface. We took apart the product and rebuilt it from scratch.

For users, it means a slick and smart interface that is faster, more responsive, and more flexible. Our Marketing Team went with 3x faster, but between you and me, the browser DOM (Document Object Model) loads about 4 times faster. This is crucial because every second counts in the fast-paced, fast-output broadcast environment.

Why did we rewrite the code

Vizrt began exploring web applications some years (around 15+) after focusing on desktop applications. At the time we chose GWT (Google Web Toolkit) as our web framework. Mainly because developers could quickly and easily write web applications without really being web developers. GWT made it easy to transpile code – taking Java core code and transforming it to Javascript, while also taking care of all the browser permutations.

We could write familiar, type-safe, object-oriented code in Java and handle our projects and dependencies in Eclipse or IntelliJ. Overnight, Vizrt desktop developers turned into web developers.

The first version of Viz Pilot Edge, as well as Viz Multiplay and Viz Story were released this way.

However, after some time the web community abandoned GWT. The transpiled code added many layers between the DOM and the UI. The applications began to feel sluggish. And, we began looking at new technology with a focus on technology that could help us build the products of the future.

“Developing with this framework is many times faster than Java/GWT. The primary benefit is that the interface and elements within Viz Pilot Edge 3 now load much faster than previous versions. That’s a huge benefit to the fast-paced broadcast news production environment.”

Moving to Vue.js and Typescript

When we looked at Viz Pilot Edge in particular, we knew we had to make a change. In 2022 we made a hard cut and decided to invest in new technology and train our developers to become real web developers. Instead of refactoring piece by piece of the application, we decided to rewrite the whole product code from scratch. A risky process that has paid off, in my view as the product owner.

We evaluated several modern Javascript frameworks and landed on Vue.js and TypeScript. We felt most comfortable with this technology. The framework is focused on the UI layer, which is what we need.

At Vizrt, we already have our own servers and communication protocols, and we do not need a heavy client-server framework. The custom codebase and introduced 3rd party components are scanned for security vulnerabilities during the product development process.

Developing with this framework is many times faster than Java/GWT. We are much closer to the DOM, the UI is lighter and faster, and we love the hot reload and lightning-fast compile times. In addition, Vue has a massive user base which makes it easy to find quality resources in the community.

What this means for a Viz Pilot Edge user like you

The primary benefit is that the interface and elements within Viz Pilot Edge 3 now load much faster than previous versions. That’s a huge benefit to the fast-paced broadcast news production environment.

What’s also interesting is that the Vue ecosystem is easier to customize and makes integrating with various web applications easier. What this means is we now have more flexibility with integrating web tools into the Viz Pilot Edge interface.

And finally, because Vue is lightweight and user-friendly, we can build a faster and more integrated (versatile) Viz Pilot Edge that is not just more responsive, but also futureproof.

Viz Pilot Edge 3 is the first product out the door from Vizrt featuring Vue.js and Typescript. The enthusiasm in R&D is palpable as we move away from heavy legacy technology. For myself and my team, building new features and technology at Vizrt is definitely going to be a lot more fun now and our customers will benefit from that.

P.S. – We’re also hiring – so if you’d like to join Vizrt and build the broadcast tools of the future, check out Vizrt Careers.