FLEX it babey
Here is my thoughts on the whole FLEX hype.
From what I have been told and read/viewed FLEX is shaping up to be a XUL style approach to RIA development, in that using a custom XML syntax to dictate how the RIA is to build itself.
The groovy part about this is simply put, the RIA development no longer requires all the work to be done by a Flash Developer? -- A Flash developer simply creates the ingredients needed, in order to bake the cake, the actual cooking and baking is left up to others if need be.
ActionScript 2.0 being similiar in syntax to JAVA (arguments still happen on reasons for this, as they end up as still prototype based language at runtime neway? carefactor=0) will still allow both the server-side logic and some of the client logic, to be handled by the JAVA minded folks. Great for things like writing formulas or basic form validation librarys (which are truly re-useable on all platforms).
Another selling point so far, is the fact that from a business model, Flash developers will be able to maybe get a return on API/Components they have written as at the moment, the only people who care about a component are pretty much Flash Developers -- the others couldn't care. I put it to you, that say if a Flash Developer where to create a "Virtual Paperclip Genie thingy" that has a series of API calls etc, that basically walk the user through a RIA, this of course would be a "fluff" component, but essentially a non-flash developer could probably get away with implementing this through-out their basic application, resulting in a richer interaction with a gumby user? This is just a quick example, but essentially, the component development side of things could look more attractive in resale value and the flash developer could gain a nice passive enterprise.
I'm personally not a fan of the overall HALO framework, mainly due to the fact that its simply put, a pain in the ass to work with especially in regards to customization (I still use v1 components and some of my own). If your not a fan of the halo or dislike their look and feel (as lets face it, if everyone starts using that UI, its going to date quick) you can still use your own components in FLEX. Again, nice selling point.
As for you comments Gary on "Why bother with Flash based technology in the first place?" type question...
Personally, up until now the whole RIA build-up has been over-done and over-sold, problem is that there arent' allot of Flash RIA capable developers out there, and maybe this is a reason why on the slow uptake to the Flash development. Personally, the Flash developers i interact with have shown me some amazing RIA technology, and its still only touching the surface of what its possible.
Bottom line, HTML is a hard thing to compete against, as its quicker to develop a form in then Flash? You have so many basic commands available to you via HTML then you do with flash (hello, someone try and do a cf-outputted selectbox in flash vs someone do one in HTML?)
Having said that, FLEX will allow you to do the basic routines in HTML (eventually if enough people write some decent components) but will also allow you to expand further and start addressing "wish-lists" of how we would love a browser to work in general (DHTML developers will agree, that if we had a fully supported w3c compliant browser, used on all platforms around the world, life would be sweet) -- We kind of do, its called Flash. Its not 100% CSS / w3C compliant? but essentially why should it be when you can get away with tonnes more then you normally would with CSS? (I can't get over this whole *trying to make flash CSS friendly* -- to me thats trying to force a kickass piece of technology to inherit problems of a browser? - debate that later).
Bottom line is, FLEX/FLASH will allow you guys the primary - CFMX minded developers the power to still have total control over an application (lets face, it control rules) and still create an RIA app that will look exactly the same UI-wise accross all Flash supported platforms, and furthermore will give you the leverage needed to expand your application if need be into technologies like Central).
Throw in a mix of Flash Communication server with flex etc, and you truly could create a very wikkid RIA tool, the only problem you face is limited inspiration that and get your hands on a nice Multimedia/graphic designer for that sexy UI.
RIA failures in my mind so far have been either poor UI design or poor communication between a sever-side monkey vs flash monkey. Lets face it, they are from two different worlds in the end.
FLEX will own, hopefully and as long as they keep the price model to safe level (Insert BREEZE issues here) it could turn out to be the bane of HTML's existance.
Sadly, i think the whole Flash RIA negativity is still pretty strong in the Web application Industry and its still a hard sell.
Personally, Flash has come into its own with some new features in FMX 2004 (still a bit too over-sold on Halo framework - but essentially, its got some future prospects that will get better and more effecient).
Scott. http://www.mossyblog.com
Gary Menzel wrote:
While I really liked Sean's description of MXML with the potential it may hold (and I subsequently read the article he referred to) I have to hitch a ride with Tim on this.....
....can do already in HTML (ok and maybe a bit of javascript).
I agree. MM need better apps to sell these concepts. Admittedly, there are trying to get people involved in the Beta program but it is why I asked my question about "how sexy" the Flash applications will look. Because, if they just only look like a HTML form, then what value am I really getting if I have to learn a new schema (as Mike mentioned) if I can't really leverage that new knowledge across multiple platforms?
As some on this list will know, I have continued to play "devils advocate" where Flash "Applications" are concerned. And I am still waiting to see that killer application that provides so many more benefits than a "web application" to sell me on the concept.
Don't get me wrong. I am not critical of "Flash" as a technology, or of the development tools, or of ActionScript, of even of anything that people DO build with it. I am critical of one tool being marketted as the be-all-and-end-all of programming tools.
I have seen some really nice things done in Flash. But nothing that I would call an "application" and nothing that really needed to be on the "internet" and nothing that provided any greater "richness" than what you could provide using DHTML/CSS. And I haven't seen any statistical information regarding the amount of time it took to build in Flash VS DHTML/CSS (by people highly proficient in both technologies).
MM got rightly criticised last year....
And it will probably happen again. While I think the technology is very kewl, it would need some serious "problem solving" examples to sell our organisation on a licence for a FLEX server (whatever it costs - because we just wouldn't invest the time to learn it, even if it was free, if it didn't solve some significant business problems).
.... But it's still not all that "rich" is it?
"Rich" is a relative term. And I don't like it's use as a buzzword. You can have a "non fancy" user interface to a very "rich" application. "Rich" can mean "It does everything I want now and is capable of doing everything I want in the future". Or it may may "I get all these fancy looking gadgets to do some very simple tasks that don't really make anything easier but earn the programmers more money".
It's so subjective.
Gary Menzel Web Development Manager IT Operations Brisbane -+- ABN AMRO Morgans Limited Level 29, 123 Eagle Street BRISBANE QLD 4000 PH: 07 333 44 828 FX: 07 3834 0828
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MXDU2004 + Macromedia DevCon AsiaPac + Sydney, Australia http://www.mxdu.com/ + 24-25 February, 2004
