This document introduces Reflex, a new component framework for building user interface controls. Reflex is designed to address the need for more customizable and flexible components to work across diverse screens and devices. It takes a new approach to component design that combines skinning and behavior to allow components to be visually and interactively customized. The framework provides core components and follows principles of pay-as-you-go and composability to create reusable, lightweight UI building blocks.

1. REFLEX
Rethinking Component Design
by Jacob & Tyler Wright

2. FLASH - AN OPEN INTERACTIVE MEDIUM
TED PATRICK
“Platforms should never limit creativity, they should
enable it openly and this strikes at the core as to why
Flash has succeeded for so long. There are no SWF
approval police or terms of use for Flash content, it is
the wild west of interactivity.
“Flash will never stop innovating both inside and
outside of Adobe. The Flash ecosystem is one of the
greatest in terms of creativity and technical ingenuity.”

3. REFLEX DEFINED
• Reflex: a Component Framework
• Component: User Interface control
• The UI is the window into an application
• ... Reflex is a method and a framework

4. COMPONENTS
A BRIEF HISTORY
• The Graphical Operating System
• The Magical Interwebs
• Developed for the present: familiarity === usability
• “What has been proven by Flash developers is that users
expect so much more...”

5. THE NEED
•A new generation of UI design & branding
• User Experience: usability & content focused
• Diversity in screens & devices
• The line between enterprise application & mobile widget is
blurring

6. THE NEED
• Increased capacity for custom design
• New approaches to interaction
• Even more flexible, faster, lighter

7. REFLEX
RETHINKING COMPONENT DESIGN
• ... Reflex is a method and a framework
•A coming together of ideas, for “richer and cheaper”
•A new approach, captured for the Flash Platform

8. THE SOLUTION
• Principles:
• Pay-as-you-go & composition
• Close to the core, strength in the Flash Player
• “Less code”

9. THE SOLUTION
• Approach:
• Review of data
• Selection
• Progress & Position

10. SKINNING
• Visual representation on the screen
• Render to any target display object
• Enhanced by ISkinnable targets
• data, state, layout, getSkinPart()

11. SKINNING
• Skin Types
• Drawing API
• Flash Professional Graphics
• MXML

12. BEHAVIOR
• User interaction and state defined
• Listen to any interactive object
• Also enhanced by ISkinnable targets
• Listeners, state, skin parts

13. BEHAVIOR
• Behavior Types
• Step behavior
• Slide behavior
• Cursor & Tooltip behaviors

14. THE COMPONENT
• Reflex component suite
• Core design and functionality unified
• Named package for convenience and styling

15. THE COMPONENT
• Containment
• Layout
• Replication

16. THANK YOU
• Tyler Wright - Legato Media
xtyler.com ... @xtyler
• Jacob Wright- Jive Software
jacwright.com ... @jac_