Re: [flexcoders] Flash/Flex/ActionScript/Video ClearSpring?

[Alan]

On Jul 9, 2008, at 7:18 AM, Mike Schinkel wrote:


So my questions are:

In a nutshell, what's the difference between Flash or Flex or  
ActionScript? (After much googling I still can't find a definitive  
answer.)
ActionScript is an ECMA standard Programming language.  Until about 3  
years ago it was a hackish language similar to Javascript, referred  
to as Actionscript 2.  Adobe took it over, and rewrote the VM.  It now  
is adn Object Orientated - event driven language,  closer in behaviour  
and structure to Java, it is reffered to as Actionscript 3

.
Actionscript is the prgramming language that the technology Flash is  
build on.  There is a program that is often referred to as Flash  
whose current version is Flash CS3 (yes it is confusiing).  The word  
Flash in general usage, can refer to a technology and an IDE.


Flex is a framework of prebuilt Flash (the technology) components.  
When using Flex, you use a language called MXML (which in turn refers  
to components built with Actionscript), which is just an XML language,  
whose tags refer to Actionscript(Flash the technology) components.


Flash (the IDE whose current version is CS3) is more suited for  
designers who draw and arrange animations.  There is an option to  
write classes and code an application, but it haslimited supporting  
features like code hinting, variable searching etc.


Flex (the framework) is most suited to make RIAs, not websites.  
Generally, people use Flex Builder (an IDE) or download the Flex SDK  
and use it as a plug-in for Eclipse.



If more than one of the above, what do I use each for?
Which Adobe Software would I need to buy for this?


You don't need to buy anything.  Websites and RIAs can be built with  
SDKs that can be downloaded from Adobe http://opensource.adobe.com/wiki/display/site/Home


You can download a free full working version and it will last 60 days.

You can buy Flex Builder for 300 dollars, and you don't have to go  
through any possible integration problems with using it with Eclipse.   
If you are new to Flash (the technology) and need to build an RIA,  
Flex Builder is the way to go.


To build a Flash website that does not use the Flex Framework ( i.e  
with no prebuilt components) You download the SDK from adobe and can  
use a simple text editor to write your code, then you need to use a  
compiler (which can be dl for free) to compile the program.
Are there free or open-source versions of software that would give  
me what I need? (I'm not making that much on the project so I'd hate  
to have to drop drop US$1000+ for an Adobe product .)

Are there any books you'd highly recommend for what I need?


For beginners, Learning Actionscript http://oreilly.com/catalog/9780596527877/

IF you understand programming pretty well already

http://oreilly.com/catalog/9780596526948/?CMP=AFC-ak_bookATT=Essential+ActionScript+3.0

For beginning Flex

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1590599500

RE: [flexcoders] Flash/Flex/ActionScript/Video ClearSpring?

[Mike Schinkel]

Alan:
 
 ActionScript is...
 Flex is...
 Flash is...
 You don't need to buy anything...  

WOW, in all my 20+ years in development and in online forums, that has
probably got to be the best, clearest, most concise, and most complete
answer I've ever received from any question I've asked.  THANK YOU.

 For beginners, Learning Actionscript
http://oreilly.com/catalog/9780596527877/
 IF you understand programming pretty well already

http://oreilly.com/catalog/9780596526948/?CMP=AFC-ak_bookATT=Essential+Act
ionScript+3.0
http://oreilly.com/catalog/9780596526948/?CMP=AFC-ak_bookATT=Essential+Acti
onScript+3.0

Thanks. I picked up Learning Actionscript 3.0 today at Borders; looks like a
great book (I didn't get Essential ActionScript 3.0 because, well, Borders
didn't have a copy...)
 

That said, would you mind if I trouble you (and/or others) with a few follow
up questions?

 Flex (the framework) is most suited to make RIAs, not websites. 
 To build a Flash website that does not use the Flex Framework 

When you say build a Flash website are you talking about one where there
is a single HTML file and a single SWF file, or something else?  Just
curious.

 If you are new to Flash (the technology) and need to build an RIA, Flex
Builder is the way to go.  

Since emailing you I came across FlashDevelop
(http://www.flashmagazine.com/reviews/detail/flashdevelop_20/).  Do you or
anyone else have opinions on it as an alternative to FlexBuilder?



Lastly, can I confirm that to build a simple video player SWF that can
retrieve it's .FLV video file name from a REST-based (HTTP GET) web service
I would be able to use Flex?  I'm 90% sure the answer is yes, but I'm just
checking.
 
Thanks again!

-Mike
 
  _  

From: flexcoders@yahoogroups.com [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On
Behalf Of Alan
Sent: Wednesday, July 09, 2008 11:38 AM
To: flexcoders@yahoogroups.com
Subject: Re: [flexcoders] Flash/Flex/ActionScript/Video  ClearSpring?




On Jul 9, 2008, at 7:18 AM, Mike Schinkel wrote:


So my questions are:

1.  In a nutshell, what's the difference between Flash or Flex or
ActionScript? (After much googling I still can't find a definitive answer.)

ActionScript is an ECMA standard Programming language.  Until about 3 years
ago it was a hackish language similar to Javascript, referred to as
Actionscript 2.  Adobe took it over, and rewrote the VM.  It now is adn
Object Orientated - event driven language,  closer in behaviour and
structure to Java, it is reffered to as Actionscript 3
. 
Actionscript is the prgramming language that the technology Flash is build
on.  There is a program that is often referred to as Flash whose current
version is Flash CS3 (yes it is confusiing).  The word Flash in general
usage, can refer to a technology and an IDE.


Flex is a framework of prebuilt Flash (the technology) components. When
using Flex, you use a language called MXML (which in turn refers to
components built with Actionscript), which is just an XML language, whose
tags refer to Actionscript(Flash the technology) components.


Flash (the IDE whose current version is CS3) is more suited for designers
who draw and arrange animations.  There is an option to write classes and
code an application, but it haslimited supporting features like code
hinting, variable searching etc. 


Flex (the framework) is most suited to make RIAs, not websites. Generally,
people use Flex Builder (an IDE) or download the Flex SDK and use it as a
plug-in for Eclipse.  




3.  If more than one of the above, what do I use each for? 

4.  Which Adobe Software would I need to buy for this?



You don't need to buy anything.  Websites and RIAs can be built with SDKs
that can be downloaded from Adobe
http://opensource.adobe.com/wiki/display/site/Home


You can download a free full working version and it will last 60 days.


You can buy Flex Builder for 300 dollars, and you don't have to go through
any possible integration problems with using it with Eclipse.  If you are
new to Flash (the technology) and need to build an RIA, Flex Builder is the
way to go.  


To build a Flash website that does not use the Flex Framework ( i.e with no
prebuilt components) You download the SDK from adobe and can use a simple
text editor to write your code, then you need to use a compiler (which can
be dl for free) to compile the program.




5.  Are there free or open-source versions of software that would give
me what I need? (I'm not making that much on the project so I'd hate to have
to drop drop US$1000+ for an Adobe product .) 

6.  Are there any books you'd highly recommend for what I need?



For beginners, Learning Actionscript
http://oreilly.com/catalog/9780596527877/


IF you understand programming pretty well already


http://oreilly.com/catalog/9780596526948/?CMP=AFC-ak_book
http://oreilly.com/catalog/9780596526948/?CMP=AFC-ak_bookATT=Essential+Act
ionScript+3.0 ATT=Essential+ActionScript+3.0


For beginning Flex


http://www.amazon.com/gp/product

Re: [flexcoders] Flash/Flex/ActionScript/Video ClearSpring?

[Alan]

When you say build a Flash website are you talking about one where  
there is a single HTML file and a single SWF file, or something  
else?  Just curious.
Here is an example.  Right now one of the projects my company is  
working on is the website for the new Bond Movie.  Me and another  
developer are working on it. It is inciudes a typical movie showcase  
(pictures, movie clips, trialers, story background) as well as a  
multiplayer game.  The tools being used for this are an AMFPHP  
websever, Photoshop, Flash CS3, and TextMate.  The designers are  
making graphics in Photoshop, and animations in Flash CS3. The  
developers are using Textmate to write the code.


Two weeks ago, I split off and started to build an RIA app with Flex  
Builder.  Because the Bond site is going to be deployed in many  
different languages at the same time, it was decided to go ahead and  
build an application that would allow us and translators all over the  
world to translate any of our projects into any language.


This could have been done without using Flex, but it will be much  
faster and easier to do.



 If you are new to Flash (the technology) and need to build an  
RIA, Flex Builder is the way to go.
Since emailing you I came across FlashDevelop (http://www.flashmagazine.com/reviews/detail/flashdevelop_20/ 
).  Do you or anyone else have opinions on it as an alternative to  
FlexBuilder?


I've never used it, but have heard good things. Textmate is very  
popular, but it is mac only.
Lastly, can I confirm that to build a simple video player SWF that  
can retrieve it's .FLV video file name from a REST-based (HTTP GET)  
web service I would be able to use Flex?  I'm 90% sure the answer is  
yes, but I'm just checking.


Yes.