ASC 2.0 vs Falcon

ActionScript (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Falcon, the next-generation MXML and ActionScript compiler that is currently under development 

Following are the key differences between Falcon and ASC 2.0
- ASC 2.0 is essentially a fork of Falcon. 
- Falcon was branched off from ASC 2.0 in summer 2012 and the packages were renamed from com.adobe.flash to org.apache.flex.
-  Falcon supports Flex (MXML)
- ASC 2.0 is mainly focused on gaming.

the new ActionScript Compiler (ASC 2.0) is part of the AIR 3.4/FP 11.4 SDK. The complete release notes are available here. It things like Concurrency (ActionScript Workers) support for debugging and more.

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Building Simple Application with Flex

EBA AJAX Grid + Flex Charting Component (Photo credit: Andre Charland)

Working with Containers

Lets now learn about the most important MXML tag in Flex.

Applicaiton
Description: root container for an Flex application

Properties:

layout, define lay out for its child components, possible values for this property are:

1. vertical - automatic top to bottom in order layout
2. horizontal - automatic left to right in order layout
3. absolute - no automatic layout, (x,y) location based layout

Note: The default layout, BasicLayout renderer doesn't respect the transformations that occur in the object's width/height/position during rotation. It still tries to layout the objects as if they were not rotated. However, if you use any other layout, like VerticalLayout or HorizontalLayout, the objects new dimensions after rotation is used.

style, defines formatting for the child components

1. backgroundGradientColors
2. verticalGap

How to Use Absolute Layout in Flex

More DIY videos at 5min.com

How to Use the appropriate Layout Type in your Flex Applicatoin

More DIY videos at 5min.com

Also visit blog to learn about adding inline ActionScript in MXML code

• Using Inline ActionScript in Flex

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Introducing Flash Builder 4

Flash Builder is a commercial tool from Adobe focused on developer productivity. It supports the following capabilities.

• Intelligent coding help and templates
• Network monitor
• Interactive, step-through debugger
• Emulation and on-device debugging
• Visual design interfae
• Data access wizards
• Memory and performance profilers
• Automated testing support

Hello World in Flash Builder 4


Introducing Flash Builder 4


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Getting Started With Adobe Flex

Below is my presentation about Apache Flex overview which covers high level details about what is Flex, its architecture, benefits ...

Apache Flex: Overview from Tarun Telang

Flex can be applied for the following solutions:

•Business systems/Applications

•Standalone custom solutions

•Network, communication and other interactive solutions

•Video and audio messaging solutions/ Collaboration Tools

•CRM and ERP systems

How to create an Application with Adobe Flex

The video below show how to use Flex Builder 3 and walks you true creating a new Flex Builder project demonstrating new functionality available in this release.

More DIY videos at 5min.com

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Preparing Adobe Flex Development Environment (Part 1), updated.

Image via Wikipedia

Development Tools Overview 

• Adobe Flash® Builder™ (formerly Flex Builder) - Eclipse™ based Integrated Development Environment (IDE) designed to help software developers build rich Internet applications (RIAs) using the open source Flex framework (including both web and Adobe AIR base desktop applicaitons).While Flex applications can be built using only the free open source framework, developers can use Adobe® Flash® Builder™ software to dramatically accelerate development. It provides useful features for a developer to perform design, development, and debugging of applications in effective manner.
• Adobe Flex SDK - The Adobe Flex® SDK provides the core Flex compilers, Flex framework component library and debugger. Using only the free SDK and an IDE of your choice, you can build and deploy rich Flex applications. (If you are using Flash Builder 4, the SDK is already included.).  This is the link to Download Flex 4 SDK.
• Adobe Flash Catalyst™  (codenamed "Thermo") -  Flash Catalyst is a new professional interaction design tool for rapidly creating user interfaces without coding. Sales of this product has ended in April 2012. Flash Catalyst is no longer be available in future versions of Adobe Creative Suite® software. Adobe recommends interaction designers to consider Creative Suite 6 Master Collection, which is now a professional creative tools to create interactive ubiquitous apps (with reach vitually universal reach).
• Slider: Flex Mobile Framework - A mobile version of the Flex framework which will enable Flex developers to build mobile applications for smartphones and other high-end mobile devices.

The following video provided a brief introduction to of Flex Builder 3 ?

Also Check the following resources for alternate Development Environments for Flex

• Amehtyst - A new ide for flex developers
• Powerflasher FDT 5 - Yet another ide for Flex Developer

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Getting Inspired & Exploring the possibilities of Adobe Flex, updated

Image via Wikipedia

Now its time to browse some Rich Internet Applications (RIA) built in Adobe Flex.

Rich Internet Applications are web applications that works like full fledged desktop applications.

They can be delivered to the user through a site specific browser either through a plug in or virtual machines.

A site-specific browser (SSB) is a software application that is dedicated to accessing pages from a single source (site) on a computer network such as the Internet or a private intranet. SSBs typically simplify the more complex functions of a web browser by excluding the menus, toolbars and browser chrome associated with functions that are external to the workings of a single site. These applications can be started by using mostly a desktop icon using the favicon.^[1]

Examples of site-specific browser

• Mozilla Prism - https://mozillalabs.com/en-US/prism/ 
• Robin Web Browser - http://raven.io/ 
• Fluid App - http://fluidapp.com/

RIAs let you perform in-line editing, drag and drop items or otherwise interact directly with elements.
Popular browser based RIAs include Flickr, Google Maps, and eBay.

Why Adobe Flex ?

Flex is a highly productive, free open source framework for building and maintaining expressive web applications that deploy consistently on all major browsers, desktops, and operating systems.

Flex applications can be built using Flex SDK or Adobe Flex Builder 3. It is basically a collection of technologies developed by Adobe which can be used for the development of cross platform Rich Internet Applications (RIA).

Flex applications can be delivered on the web via the Flash Player or to the desktop via Adobe AIR

Flex requires server-side technologies like Java, SAP NetWeaver, ASP.NET or PHP to provide it with real-time data.

Adobe Flex is used across broad variety of industries and use cases.

Flex showcase which is a Flex application letting you browse and search for publicly available Flex applications. Many companies are developing Flex RIAs for internal applications.

Feel free to explore different the Flex showcase on your own, this will provides you with good inspiration and great ideas, and will lets you see what Adobe Flex is capable of.

1. Adobe Flex Showcase
2. Adobe AIR Application Showcase

Flex development can be beneficial not only to developers but also to end-users. Due to Flex programming model you can get scalable and reliable solutions. Even these solutions can be re-designed whenever needed. 

Please click the link below to get Tour de Flex application which provides over 600 running samples with source code!

 "Tour de Flex" and "Tour de Flex Mobile" - provides collection of Flex applications showcasing the capabilities of the technology for web/desktop and mobile application development respectively.

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Preparing your Runtime enviroment, updated

The so-called “Pepper” implementation of Flash Player provides a layer between the plugin and browser that abstracts away differences between browser and operating system implementations. It is an API Co-developed by Google and Adobe for hosting plugins within the browser.
1) Version Test for Flash Player
2) Installing the latest Flash Player Google Chrome browser includes Adobe® Flash® Player built-in. Google Chrome will automatically update when new versions of Flash Player are available.
3) Installing Adobe AIR
4) Flash Player Version Penetration - check this link if you are wondering which version of Flash Player would be best for you.


Watch the video below to Learn about Flash Player Integration and Support

More DIY videos at 5min.com

Introduction to Adobe AIR

More DIY videos at 5min.com

FlexJS - An introduction from OmPrakash Muppirala

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