At 09:31 PM 4/6/2009, you wrote:
> And while I'm on the topic of CF -- I still really don't
understand why I need it...
Let me see if I can answer this more directly. Flex is a powerful
language, but it can't do everything. Typically, an application
server can do things that Flex can't. Say like write files to the
filesystem, talk to databases (as noted), load special libraries web
service APIs, libraries for audio or video, talk to other web
services, coordinate information/objects between two two Flex clients.
Consider writing a chat application without a server. How would the
users find each other if they didn't have a server? How could you
monitor if another users was offline? Without a Server you can't do
this. And using a database for this is like trying to hammer a
screw in a board. It's just not the right tool.
There are constraints on Flex as well. Flex applications can't talk
to random web servers. This is to prevent all sorts of security
problems and to protect the users of your application. Applications
servers can provide a gateway to mash up data from disparate web
servers which Flex can't do. Plus it provides a public place for
users to coordinate activites that things like VPNs, Firewalls, and
other various internet baddies prevent.
Why doesn't Flex have direct access to the DB? Let's say we have
did have a way to talk directly to the database with our Flex
application. That would mean your database would have to be
directly accessible to the entire internet or else your users
couldn't use your application. This is a serious security problem
for your database since anyone could write a client that talks to
your database without using your software. At least with an
application server you can choose what you expose to the internet,
and impose a layer of security in front of that application.
This is a lot of info, but I hope it's helped.
Charlie
That does help a great deal -- thanks! Makes a lot more sense to me now.
Laurence MacNeill
Mableton, Georgia, USA
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