This document introduces Flex, a framework for building Rich Internet Applications (RIAs) using Adobe Flash technologies. It notes that Flex drops the timeline and graphical editing tools of Flash in favor of a component API and XML-based MXML language for GUIs. The technology under the hood is still ActionScript and the Flash Player, allowing Flex apps to run on desktops and browsers with high market penetration. Key things needed to start with Flex include the free open-source Flex SDK and the optional commercial FlexBuilder IDE.

1. Introduction to
Flex
JUG Genova
September 22, 2009
~
Corrado Alesso
co.alesso@fastwebnet.it

2. Flex?

3. Flex is Flash for developers
Kind of a snob definition...
Flex makes Flash developers' life easier
This could not be true if you are a designer...
Flex is Flash development under a
different perspective
More tailored for data driven, desktop-like applications. Remember: it's
just a frontend technology!

4. From Flash to Flex
You drop the Timeline, graphical editing tools, stage
canvas, visual animations
You gain a component API, a xml-based declarative
language for GUIs (MXML), a more powerful IDE
But the technology under the covers is the very same
(ActionScript and FlashPlayer)

5. Main Benefits
99% FlashPlayer market penetration
Applications run on Desktop and on
Browser
Browser and OS consistency
Good looking applications by default :)

6. How a Flex application looks like
ActionScript Code
MXML Code

7. A 1000 words

8. Things you need to start Flexing
FlexSDK
OpenSource, 3.4 stable, 4 in beta
http://opensource.adobe.com/wiki/display/flexsdk/Flex+SDK
FlexBuilder
Optional, well, just like Eclipse, Netbeans and so on are optional for Java
development :)
It's a commercial product by Adobe (from $249)
It's based on Eclipse and you get AS3/MXML/CSS editors, a visual GUI
editor, debugger, profiler, refactoring tools, AIR support, WebServices
support (FlexSDK is included)
http://www.adobe.com/cfusion/entitlement/index.cfm?e=flexbuilder3
Docs
http://www.adobe.com/support/documentation/en/flex