Scott hit just about everything. I'll just repeat it anyway as short as possible; feel free to ask for further clarity.
1. Flex allows you to develop form based, web 'esque applications faster than you can do in Flash. You have a better, more mature component set, and layout is automatically done for you. All files are ASCII vs. the closed binary format you create in Flash (FLA), which makes it easier to edit. Additionally, all classes are created for you vs. in Flash you have to merge these with visual objects that have nothing usually to do with coding controls. That's why I like it vs. Flash, and I converted to using Flash full-time at Flash 5, 2001 from Director. I'm trying to convert to Flex for anything not related to mobile development, games, or designer 'esque sites/applications. 2. Don't know, I develop fat client applications, and my server is usually handled by another team member, and our servers aren't pounded. 3. No, nor do I want to. Lazlo's features do not sound appealing, such as Flash Player 5 output (I heard recently they supported 6 and 7 supposedly). The attitude for Lazlo was XML layout, but I have heard hide nor hair as far as accolades for its component set, if it even has any. I'm subjective as I've never physically downloaded nor installed it... I keep saying I will, but they never make it sound appealing; it's free, and that still doesn't make me want it. ----- Original Message ----- From: "Scott Barnes" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <flexcoders@yahoogroups.com> Sent: Thursday, April 28, 2005 9:00 PM Subject: Re: [flexcoders] Newbie: Flash vs. Flex, CPUs, Lazslo On 4/29/05, Jim Schneider <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > 1. Could someone explain (or point me to a doc/faq) that tells me why I > would choose Flex over Flash. What can Flex do that Flash can't? Even if > it's more difficult in Flash, perhaps it's worth it given the cost of > Flex. I'll take a stab at this one. As a Flash IDE developer for many a year, I've found that its really a bottle neck and a slow process at times. Flash IDE takes a lot of discipline and understanding of the concept of flash itself and you better be armed before taking on a large project. When developing in large projects you tend to be a one man show, as to share resources or code amongst other developers takes a lot of communication and patience. That alone improves why FLEX is a valid purchase. As for what can FLEX do FLASH can't? not much technically as FLEX is really an alternative approach to the end goal. It does bring a lot more to the table then FLASH IDE in terms of Rapid Development. An example would be Remoting, any here who have used Flash Remoting in IDE form know its more tedious to implement then FLEX. Its examples like this that change your perspective on FLASH vs FLEX. On top of that, FLEX handles a lot of your tasks for you, things like initialization modals, busy cursors, history management etc are all automated tasks within FLEX. In terms of costs, i've seen soooooo many projects take months to do what could be done in FLEX in half the time. These are also run by some very competent FLASH developers who have years of experience and know the language/tool off by heart. Its just cumbersome, slow and at times very tedious. That being said, you do a lot more control visually / debugging wise in FLASH IDE then you currently at present have in FLEX. On top of that your portability is much more open then at present with FLEX. Implementing Runtime Shared Libraries in FLASH IDE is awful and painful, just ask JessterXL all about that one, he's mastered it but he went through a learning curve and pain to get to that point. I like wise, i think i've got it mastered but found it took a lot of imagination and research. In FLEX? bah its next to easy as implementing a Tree component. In FLASH MX 2004 Pro, implementing even a Tree component (databinding aside) isn't a simple task and requires some extra work then compared to FLEX. Cost wise, you'll blow more money using FLASH IDE then you will via FLEX for a large application. If you are building a small RIA app that isn't as large and doesn't require a team of developers to work on, then yes FLASH MX 2004 Pro is the suitable resource. > 2. Speaking of cost, I read on MM's site that they recommend a typical > deployment of a Flex app have 6 - 8 CPUs. Is this true in practice? If I > have an app that has 50 users (would grow to perhaps 10K users) who don't > hit the system very hard, what are CPU requirements? Are there any > performance benchmarks that I can use as a guideline for what I would need > initially and at what point I would need to upgrade. As a small company, > we > can probably chew off $12K, $70K is another story (unless I misunderstand > the licensing). Not sure on server-side, i've oftend wondered that my self and while i've read various optimization techniques and resources i'm still skeptical of its use in terms of high volume. That being said, we could easily use a DUAL CPU setup here at work for a FLEX application (approx 300-500 end users hitting it daily) and provided there is enough ram thrown at it, it should hold up fine. If need be i'd look into clustering the servers or throwing more RAM at it. I've FLEX Server tends to have ok automated garbage collection and simply apply the same server-side rules as i do with a CFMX server. > 3. Has anyone had any real-world experience/lessons-learned with Laszlo > and > any comparisons with Flex? I've gone down the path of using Laszlo as a prototype concept, comparing it to FLEX? In many ways the XML flavour Laszlo brings to the table is more simplistic but at times limiting. FLEX also offers a much sweeter options in terms of packaging applications and say integrating with CENTRAL. On top of that its Flash Remoting capabilities from memory weren't there and keep in mind it's based on FLASH 5 which also means a reduction in flash technology advancements (6 had a significant increase in features alone) I've found Laszlo also to be 3 steps behind FLEX/FLASH IDE itself. It feels like they are simply picking up the bread crumbs and if anything i'd rather look at the XAMLON in terms of FLEX alternatives - mainly as i see that as being the darkhorse in the race for XML UI creation ;) Hope i helped? or just ranted... heh. -- Regards, Scott Barnes http://www.mossyblog.com http://www.flexcoder.com (Coming Soon) Yahoo! Groups Links Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/flexcoders/ <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
