I just took the plunge and purchased FlexBuilder after spending a lot of time exploring other options (OK, you can call me stingy). The existing FlashDevelop solution was too problematic in my opinion, and there's no indication about when FD3 will be out. And unless you're a big fan of command line in general, it's probably not going to cut it for you.
After having played around with FB for about 2 days, I realize the decision was a no-brainer. The design mode is excellent. I was able to throw together nice-looking UIs for unit testing within a matter of hours. The AS coding support is on par with FlashDevelop. So far my favorite new feature is that the editor adds in "import" statements for you automatically when you declare a var using that data type. I love clever little features like that. -Adam On 2/23/07, Jamie <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
Thanks for the info guys, that's exactly what I need. I'm definitely going to download the demo of Flex Builder and play with it. I suspect I'll end up buying it if my prototypes with Flex prove to work the way I expect them to. I have to say, I'm really excited to "discover" Flex. I was trying to figure out a solution for this project via AJAX and it just wasn't working. Even using all the latest stuff, the web UI just couldn't match the desktop app that this web app needs to replace. I had talked with the client about using Flash, but as a developer, I always found developing apps for Flash really difficult. I had no idea you guys were working on essentially a UI/App framework for Flash. What a great idea! From what I've seen so far, it seems like the way to go for rich web app UI. I'm excited to see what I can do with Flex. Thanks! Jamie --- In [email protected], "Gordon Smith" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > > I'm assuming that Flex retains the Flash socket ability to > communication over TCP/IP? > > Yes. All Flash Player 9 APIs (the flash.* packages) are available in > Flex. > > > > If all I want to do is deliver a Flex Flash app on the client that > talks to a back end server over TCP/IP, I > don't need to be paying for Flex Data Services, correct? > > Correct. > > > There are no licensing fees to distribute regular Flex applications? > > Correct. > > > If I want to do some simple 2-D pie charts, will I need to buy the > Adobe Flex Charting? > > Yes, unless you want to write your own 2-D pie charts. > > > Or is ther some basic charting built into Flex? > > There is not. > > > How much easier is it to build a Flex app with Flex Builder than with > the SDK? > > The three main advantages of FlexBuilder are: > > * code hints and code completion that make writing MXML and AS code > easier and faster > * visual debugging instead of command-line debugging with fdb > * design view for doing visual layout > > I've heard developers say that FB pays for itself pretty quickly, but > since I work for Adobe I'll let other recommend whether you should buy > it or not. We love having SDK-only developers just as much as those > using FlexBuilder. > > - Gordon > > > ________________________________ > > From: [email protected] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On > Behalf Of Jamie > Sent: Friday, February 23, 2007 2:01 PM > To: [email protected] > Subject: [flexcoders] Quick Flex 2.0 questions > > > > I am architecting an RIA that needs to be able to connect via TCP/IP > to a back-end server. I've looked at a lot of technologies, and Flex > 2.0 Flash seems to be the best front end solution. > > 4 questions: > > 1) I'm assuming that Flex retains the Flash socket ability to > communication over TCP/IP? > > 2) All of the extremely expensive licensing for Flex Data Services > has me a little spooked. If all I want to do is deliver a Flex Flash > app on the client that talks to a back end server over TCP/IP, I > don't need to be paying for Flex Data Services, correct? There are > no licensing fees to distribute regular Flex applications? > > 3) If I want to do some simple 2-D pie charts, will I need to buy > the Adobe Flex Charting? Or is ther some basic charting built into > Flex? > > 4) How much easier is it to build a Flex app with Flex Builder than > with the SDK? I'll probably just download the trial and find out > myself on this one. > > Thanks! > -- Flexcoders Mailing List FAQ: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/flexcoders/files/flexcodersFAQ.txt Search Archives: http://www.mail-archive.com/flexcoders%40yahoogroups.com Yahoo! Groups Links
