When I need animation and embeded streaming video and audio - then I can see a reason. But not just for regular everyday applications.
ah, I can. I'm doing my darnist to push this because I can see how we can use it here. Some of the technology (eg video/audio streaming) isn't that new (porn sites have been using it for a while - or so I'm told!). At the moment it is in no way rock solid (Tues Breeze broadcast by Robin Hilliard showed that) but that will come with time. It's still early days.
What people here are worried about is it turning into another lame-duck technology (MM's Generator springs to mind...and millions of examples from Microsoft) - backing a donkey.
Biggest reasons for these products to fall over, isn't simply the technology, its more towards the business model of such products (ie Generator was a fantastic product, but just not within the price range of most MM development folks - think it was something like only 50 people worldwide bought it?? something bizzare like that) - Products like Spectra may of had a swifter uptake if it too wasn't for the hefty price model (despite what negative things I have heard from spectra developers have said, they all admit deep down it was a nice product).
I think people are too busy pushing Flash MX as this fluffy vector animation tool with a few bells and whistles to emulate "VB/Delphi" style applications. Its probably not as robust and powerful as traditional client-side development languages / applications, but thats mainly due to the fact that its targeted as a "Web" Application tool (Webware) and due to the need for more applications to be "easily" accessible and no limitations on technology, it serves a purpose.
one thing I'd like to get clarification of (and it could be a nothing point) is something Robin said on Tuesday - that's FLEX is directed towards Java developers.
Is that only because of the language similarities between Java and Actionscript? If you've seen one {} language, you've seen 'em all?
Firstly, ActionScript has been revised to look like Java in allot of ways, and from my personal talks with Macromedia and online reading, its probably a smart approach they are taking. If you notice that in the last couple of years, the Macromedia range has taken on a stronger OOP approach, and thats mainly to entice the Enterprise Level programmers who traditionally avert their eyes away from webware to start thinking about deploying mainstream applications in a webcentric environment.
Having said that, throwing CFMX, Flash & Flex into the JAVA category would probably be a big mistake as folks who have signed their souls away to Microsoft, may find it bad form to use a quasi JAVA categorised product with their .NET product. To me, Flash may look like JAVA, but thats as far as it goes, its still a prototype based off ECMIA. CFMX may run on JRUN, but it should still be classed as independent.. imho.
I think Macromedia said that FLEX will run off a JRUN platform, fair enough, but .NET developers still can integrate with CFMX easily enough, and it runs off a JRUN server (majority anyway) so, who's to say its a total JAVA only and hands off .NET app. In my opinion, Macromedia seem to embrace the .NET camps and I personally have grave doubts as to whether they would alienate these developers on a product like FLEX. If they do, that will most likely be its demise - already the .NET followers are preeching a war between Sparkle/Longhorn and Flex, even though MM PR have tried to squash this by stating they are on two different playing fields - yet hype and lack of information will fuel this argument me thinks.
I think they have said time and time again, they don't want to be a java hanger-on and would like to keep things neutral between the JAVA vs .NET war.
Or is it more like Java/CF where Flash could "extend" Java? I ask because we're more likely to focus on .NET than Java and whether this would matter (hope not).
I wonder if Flash may end up being able to talk to JAVA? ie in an extension type solution, doubt it but interesting -- though once again it might scare off the fanatic .NET developers.
thanx barry.b
-----Original Message----- From: Sean A Corfield [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Friday, 21 November 2003 3:10 AM To: CFAussie Mailing List Subject: [cfaussie] Re: Macromedia FLEX aka Royale
On Nov 19, 2003, at 11:44 PM, Gary Menzel wrote:
I like "new stuff" I like "change" - but I wont change just because
someone tells me I should. There has to be some justification to the
change. And I still have not seen enough justification for me to change
in regard to Flash for complete applications.
The ROI white papers on mm.com don't sway you then? Real-world examples of increased revenue, increased customer satisfaction etc?
Sean A Corfield -- http://www.corfield.org/blog/
"If you're not annoying somebody, you're not really alive." -- Margaret Atwood
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