Re: [OpenBD] Re: Definitely feels like Flex is dying ...

[Alan Holden]

There's a persistent and frustrating tendency for many IT folk to exchange the terms "Flex" and "Flash". To me, this is similar to trading the term "HTML" with the word "browser". "Flex" is a term that groups two development languages: ActionScript and MXML markup. "Flash" is presentation. It's a (swf) file running on specific software (most frequently a Flash browser plugin, the most common being that made by Adobe). One could argue that - in light of Adobe's announcement to discontinue development of their Flash browser plugin for mobile browsers - that the adoption of Flash plugins on OTHER browsers will wane as well. As the kinks are ironed out of HTML5, I will definitely be inclined to agree with those arguments... But FLEX is not enmeshed with FLASH, and one can not assume that the demise of the later will doom the former. The source code produced within the Flex methodology can compile into other "things" - besides the outcast swf file for the vilified player. Flex source can also compile into iOS, Android, Symbian and Windows Mobile app's; and it can do it without using AIR - or buying anything from Adobe. Flash is just one presentation layer, the one Adobe designed & promoted first. So please, let's do our best to be accurate in targeting our predictions of doom... as appropriate as they may someday be. Al P.S. @Rick, this is not a response to your fine post; it's just something that I've been wanting to say for a week or so. -- online documentation: http://openbd.org/manual/ google+ hints/tips: https://plus.google.com/115990347459711259462 http://groups.google.com/group/openbd?hl=en