an introduction to apache flex

AN INTRODUCTION TO APACHE FLEX

April 3rd 2013DU ASIS&T TechBytes

Joseph Labrecque

JOSEPH LABRECQUESenior Interactive Software Engineer | Adjunct FacultyUniversity of Denver

Proprietor | OwnerFractured Vision Media, LLC

Adobe Community ProfessionalAdobe Education LeaderAdobe Certified ExpertAdobe Certified EducatorAdobe Influencer

Author Packt Publishing | O’Reilly Media | video2brain | Adobe Press | Peachpit

ArtistAn Early Morning Letter, Displaced | shivervein

WHAT WE’LL COVER…• What is Flex?• Macromedia/Adobe/Apache Flex History• Adobe’s Donation to ASF• Apache Flex: Incubation• Apache Flex: Top-Level-Project• Apache Flex: Future

WHAT IS FLEX?

MXML• XML-based user interface markup language.• Declaratively build out application

interfaces.• Data binding via {}

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>

<mx:Application xmlns:mx=http://www.adobe.com/2006/mxml layout="absolute“>

<mx:Label text="Hello World!" fontSize="48" letterSpacing="1"></mx:Label>

</mx:Application>

ACTIONSCRIPT 3• Dialect of ECMAScript 4• Open source, object-oriented language.• Compiled for Flash Player and AIR.

package com.example{

import flash.text.TextField;import flash.display.Sprite;

public class Greeter extends Sprite{

public function Greeter(){

var txtHello:TextField = new TextField();txtHello.text = "Hello World";addChild(txtHello);

}}

}

RICH COMPONENTS• Rich Internet Applications• Mobile Applications• 3rd Party

TOOLING• Flash Builder• IntelliJ IDEA• FDT• FlashDevelop• And more!

FLEX @ DU

MACROMEDIAADOBE APACHE FLEXHISTORY

MACROMEDIA FLEX 1.0• $15,000 per server!• Compile to SWF on request• Flex Builder IDE

ADOBE FLEX 2.0• Flex SDK = FREE!• Compile to SWF locally• Flex Builder based on Eclipse• ActionScript 3 introduced• Flash Player 9 introduced• Adobe acquires Macromedia at this time.

ADOBE FLEX 3.0• Flex SDK open sourced and released under

Mozilla Public License• Community code contributions through

Adobe gatekeepers• Adobe AIR introduced• Flex Builder profiling tools

ADOBE FLEX 4.0• Flex Builder = Flash Builder• New Spark component architecture• Flash Catalyst integration• Text Layout Framework• Flash Player 10

ADOBE FLEX 4.5• Mobile support!

– Android– iOS– TabletOS

• Mobile Components• Multiscreen

ADOBE’S DONATIONTO ASF

NOVEMBER 9 2011• Adobe stops development on Flash Player for

mobile devices (Android) in browser.• Flash Player development on desktops

continues.• Adobe AIR development on desktop and

mobile (Android, iOS, Blackberry) continues.• Adobe decides to contribute Flex to Apache

just as it did with PhoneGap (Apache Cordova).

WHY DONATE FLEX?• “Adobe believes that Flex is the best solution

for enterprise and data-centric application development today, and that moving Flex into a community-driven open source project ensures the continued development and success of Flex for years to come.”

• “Adobe will provide a team of Flex SDK engineers who will contribute to and support the Apache Flex Project full time.”

APACHE FLEX:INCUBATION

DECEMBER 30 2011• Flex is accepted into “incubation” status.• Allows for a testing period under ASF.• Are people committed?• Is the project viable?• Can they do it?

APACHE FLEX 4.8• Specifically: “Apache Flex 4.8.0-incubating”• Parity release with Adobe Flex 4.6• No new functionality introduced.• A test release to be sure Flex is viable under

the Apache Software Foundation model.

WHERE’S 4.7?• The “4.7” version number is reserved for

Adobe in case they need to make an additional release.

• This is probably never going to happen.

APACHE FLEX:TOP LEVEL PROJECT

DECEMBER 19 2012• Top Level Project (TLP)• Signifying that the

project's community and products have been well-governed under the ASF's meritocratic process and principles.

• Official Apache Flex Website!

APACHE FLEX 4.9• First release as a top level project!• 7 Release Candidate builds!• Compatible with both 4.8 and 4.6• PostCodeFormatter, PostCodeValidator• VectorList, VectorCollection• TLF 3.0.33• Flash Player versions support (10.2 to

11.5)• Bug Fixes

APACHE FLEX 4.9.1• Fixed some issues with 4.9 locales.• Further bug fixes.

FLEX SDK INSTALLER• For those who don’t want

to compile from source :)• AIR based application• Installs Apache Flex• Installs optional libs

APACHE FLEX:FUTURE

WHAT NEXT?• Apache Flex 5.0• Falcon Compiler• Alternative output

– FalconJS– FalconJx– FlexJS– ASJS– RandoriAS

CLOSING

RESOURCES• Apache Flex:

http://flex.apache.org/• Apache Flex Mailing List Archive:

http://markmail.org/search/+list:org.apache.incubator.flex-dev

• Adobe's view of Flex and its commitments to Flex in the future:http://www.adobe.com/devnet/flex/whitepapers/roadmap.html

• Flash Runtimes Roadmap: http://adobe.com/go/flashplayer_roadmap

THANK YOUGet in touch…

Twitter: @JosephLabrecque

Email: [email protected]

Web: http://JosephLabrecque.com/

Join us at Adobe MAX 2013

May 4-8, 2013Los Angeles Convention Centerand Nokia Theatre L.A. LIVE

Join us at MAX for three days of fresh inspiration, connection, and hands-on training. Plus, receive a complimentary annual membership to Adobe® Creative Cloud™.

Register now at max.adobe.com.

Using Edge Animate to Create a Reusable Component SetMonday 3:30 PM - 511B

Community Compilation CDDownload for free: http://fracturedvisionmedia.com/FVM008/

an introduction to apache flex

Technology