The document discusses Adobe Flex as a rich internet application (RIA) technology, comparing it to other technologies such as AJAX and Silverlight while highlighting its scalability and user experience benefits. It details Flex's capabilities for developing complex applications, its component library, pricing options, and provides examples of demo sites. The advantages of Flex are tempered by warnings about potential performance bottlenecks and the learning curve associated with its proper usage.

1. Afik Gal [email_address] , 0524-601740 Flex

2. So Many Questions…. So Little Time… Rich Internet Applications? What are my RIA technological options? Is Flex like flash? (Enterprise development vs. Banner/Site building) What do I get when using Flex? How does it look like? What can I do with it? Is Flex robust/scalable/does it have enough track record?

3. RIA – It is All About User Experience (UX) Desirable – sexy (iPhone?) Usable – easy to use / leads the user Accessible – maximal 3 clicks for most options Useful – does what the user needs Adaptable – fits user’s methods of work The UX makes the application engaging

4. RIA Technological Options Ajax – Asynchronous JavaScript and XML Dojo, JQuery, Google’s GWT 1.7.0 Sun’s JavaFX 1.2 Microsoft’s Silverlight v.3 Adobe’s Flex (v.4 in beta) Options are not equivalent!!!

5. Flash Authoring Time and animation metaphor Narratives to teach concepts, advertise products and services. Inherent limits when developing complex applications Lightweight Wide community of developers (Different from Java/.Net developers) Created using adobe CS4 – designer tools

6. Flex Authoring Screens and states metaphor (like other languages) Timeline capabilities (Motion and effects) are used to improve user comprehension through feedback Includes complex mechanisms to allow creation of enterprise grade applications Heavier than flash ,slower to load Not better than flash for simple tasks Programmers are usually ‘converted” Java/.Net programmers Created using Flex Builder (Eclipse plugin)

7. RIA – Important Considerations Logic (business/view) can run in the client-side, thus making the server smaller and more scalable RIA technology is very easy to abuse, creating over-kill applications and annoying UI Forgetting the speed constraint can lead to a non-desirable outcome EVERYTHING is user centric (Optimizations, etc) Choice of proper technology is important

8. Cross Browser/Cross Platform JavaScript code is not really cross browser… Flex is 100% cross-browser.. Silverlight is aiming there Flex is also almost 100% cross platform… Flash player runs well on almost every browser and it is lightweight….Net CLR is heavy….

9. Penetration The numbers for Java are similar to Flash , only 20% less Some assumption say that all .Net together are ~ 58% or 34% or 6%.... Non-mobile devices!

10. Flex A work in progress…more than 6 years old Latest version 4,Runs on Flash Player (v 9-10) Eclipse Plugin (Netbeans,IntelliJ) Implemented using ActionScript 3 & MXML(XML) Allows creation of desktop applications (AIR) Open source framework Huge extendable SDK filled with goodies Includes Optimization mechanisms for heavily graphical applications (Allow you to do everything)

11. Flex Demo sites 1. Mercedes-Benz mbusa.com 2. FlauntR Online Photo Editor http:// www.flauntr.com/flauntr / 3. Volkswagen UK Used Car Locator http:// www.volkswagen.co.uk 4. Toufee Online Flash Video Maker http:// www.toufee.com / 5. 24 Hour Fitness Member Services Online http://www.24hourfitness.com

12. http://www.scion.com/ http://iexpenseonline.com/# http:// www.picnik.com /app http:// www.pepsi.com / http://archive.bigspaceship.com/hungrysuitcase/home.html https://customizer.harley-davidson.com/GMA_customizer.jsp http://www.adobe.com/flashon/ http://www.scrapblog.com/ http://www.adobe.com/cfusion/showcase/index.cfm?event=finder&productid=26724&loc=en_us http://gpsmission.com/gps-mission/missionadmin/create.do http://www.buildyourhonda.eu/ Flex Demo sites

13. How Flex Works Compile Existing Applications & Infrastructure XML/HTTP REST/SOAP WS Flex Class Library Compiler+Debugger SOAP HTTP/S AMF/S RTMP/S Web Server Data Services Browser’s Cache Flash Player Flex Builder IDE MXML AS3

14. So What Do You Get…. A lot of ready made, extendable and styleable (CSS) component/capabilities Asynchronous request / response model Extensive data services capabilites: XML, SOAP, Binary data communication + Streaming Client-side caching + Many Optimization mechanisms + Modularization mechanisms Many impressive and open source components (community) including free data services

15. Ready made components

16. Flex Data Components Advanced DataGrid Hierarchical data displays Flexible grouping and sorting APIs Custom cell/row/column formatting Charting Enhancements Data-oriented graphics API Per-item labels and fills Arbitrary number of display axes Region selection

17. 3rd Party Charting Components

18. Flex 3 Pricing and Packaging Price Notes Adobe® Flex™ 3 SDK Open Source Free Adobe® Flex™ Builder™ 3 Standard edition Adobe® Flex™ Builder™ 3 Professional edition $249 $699 Standalone or plug-in Adds testing tools, charting, and advanced datagrid BlazeDS – Flex Remoting and Messaging Free Open Source – BlazeDS project

19. Desktop Applications –Adobe AIR Adobe Integrated Runtime (AIR) Cross-OS application engine that enables hybrid desktop-internet applications Same language…same skills…same team Ability to integrate Internet and desktop Access to local Filesystem/Database

20. Flex 4 beta (FlashBuilder…) Support for RTL languages Improved component model Lots more effects/skinning/styling options 25% faster compiler… Code Generation Unit Testing built in support Usage of Flash Player 10 – Better graphical performance + 3D. Sophisticated text rendering

21. Disadvantages of Flex Using Flex is easy…. Using it correctly…NOT! Flex application can have huge bottle necks and very poor performance…Proper usage of flex demands understanding of the work of the AVM (ActionScript Virtual Machine) and acquaintance with Flex’s MANY optimization mechanismsFlex is based on AS3…… Despite the Open-Source SDK.. Flex is propriety Flex builder is not cheap…. Flex compiler is SLOW!

22. Anatomy of a Flex Application

23. A Whole Data Driven Program

24. Components Tour de flex Components

25. Hands On Experience