FLEX

Adobe FLEX is a software development kit released by Adobe Systems for the development and deployment of cross-platform Rich Internet Applications based on the Adobe Flash platform. Flex applications can be written using Adobe Flex Builder or by using the freely available Flex compiler from Adobe.

Language

The following list summarizes key points about Flex technology:

   * Flex applications are SWF files.
   * Flex is a programmer-centric way to create Flash-based rich internet applications.
   * Flex applications are rendered using Flash Player 9.
   * Like all Flash RIAs, Flex SWF files are processed by the client, rather than the server.
   * Flex can connect to server-based applications like ColdFusion, PHP, ASP.NET and Java.
   * You can retrieve plain text or XML data via HTTP.
   * You can retrieve Simple Object Access Protocol (SOAP) messages using web services.
   * You can work with Java remote objects (POJOs, JavaBeans, EJBs and ColdFusion Components) using LiveCycle Data Services (previously Flex Data Services).

AMF

• Adobe Flex/AMF requests: http://www.neotys.com/documents/support/htmldoc3.0.x/ch06s06s04.html
• Building Web and Desktop Applications with BlazeDS and AMF:http://arunbluebrain.wordpress.com/2009/01/19/building-web-and-desktop-applications-with-blazeds-and-amf/
• Java AMF Client: http://opensource.adobe.com/wiki/display/blazeds/Java+AMF+Client
• More on RPC in Adobe Flex Applications with AMF, BlazeDS, and/or GraniteDS: http://www.infoq.com/news/2007/12/more-on-rpc-in-flex-with-amf
• Integrating Flex and Spring based JMS applications: http://ria.dzone.com/articles/flex-spring-jms

Tools

• FlexB -- WebServices in Flex utility: http://flexb.sourceforge.net/
• XMLConverter is an Actionscript library that converts Value Objects to XML, and vice-versa: http://www.customware.net/repository/display/FLEX/Integrating+Flex+with+XML+using+XMLConverter
• Open Source Flex Project - flexwires (UI wiring/authoring tool): http://joshblog.net/2008/11/10/open-source-flex-project-wires-ui-library/

• DeGrafa: http://degrafa.org

FlexMonkey

• FlexMonkey - flex UI testing tool: http://www.gorillalogic.com/userfiles/flexmonkey/
• FlexMonkey - user guide: http://www.gorillalogic.com/userfiles/flexmonkey/FlexMonkeyUserGuideR1b2.pdf

Resources

• Flex SDK Downloads: http://opensource.adobe.com/wiki/display/flexsdk/Downloads
• amCharts -- Flex Components for Adobe™ Flex™ and Air™ applications: http://flex.amcharts.com/
• flexlib - Open Source Flex Component Library: http://code.google.com/p/flexlib/

AIR

• Merapi -- the bridge between Web (Flex/Flash) and Desktop (Air/Java) software: http://merapiproject.net/
• Flex sample AIR application - Storing data offline: http://www.adobe.com/devnet/flex/trial/examples/28_complex_app.html

flex-iframe

• flex-iframe -- An IFrame which you can embed into Flex applications to show an html page: http://code.google.com/p/flex-iframe/

BlazeDS

BlazeDS is the server-based Java remoting and web messaging technology that enables developers to easily connect to back-end distributed data and push data in real-time to Adobe® Flex® and Adobe AIR™ applications for more responsive rich Internet application (RIA) experiences.

• BlazeDS: http://opensource.adobe.com/blazeds/

Tutorials

• Flex_Ajax_Bridge_the_Missing_Link: http://cookbooks.adobe.com/post_Flex_Ajax_Bridge_the_Missing_Link-11946.html
• Part I -- Creating a Simple RIA (Flickr API in FLEX demo): http://learn.adobe.com/wiki/display/Flex/Part+I.+Creating+a+Simple+RIA
• Part II -- Exchanging Data: http://learn.adobe.com/wiki/display/Flex/Part+II.+Exchanging+Data
• Part III -- Top Things You Need to Know When Working With Flex: http://learn.adobe.com/wiki/display/Flex/Part+III.+Top+things+you+need+to+know
• Part IV -- Building Your Own Flex Application: http://learn.adobe.com/wiki/display/Flex/Part+IV.+Building+Your+Own+Flex+Application
• Using a PHP Proxy with Flex to talk Cross Domain: http://www.switchonthecode.com/tutorials/using-a-php-proxy-with-flex-to-talk-cross-domain
• Creating a Simple MP3 Player using ActionScript 3.0 and Flex 2: http://flashenabledblog.com/2007/06/20/creating-a-simple-mp3-player-using-actionscript-30-and-flex-2/
• What is service-config.xml and remote-config.xml: http://www.momentstar.com/2007/04/what-is-service-configxml-and-remote-configxml/
• Flex 3 in a Week: http://www.adobe.com/devnet/flex/videotraining/
• Flex accelerated Learning Path (for Developers): http://www.adobe.com/devnet/flex/learn/learningpath.html
• Flex Test Drive -- Build an application in an hour: http://www.adobe.com/devnet/flex/testdrive/articles/1_build_a_flex_app.html
• Flash Builder code generation for client applications: http://help.adobe.com/en_US/Flex/4.0/AccessingData/WSbde04e3d3e6474c4-56c6d6d11210238e6e8-8000.html
• Understanding the Flex-Ajax Bridge: http://www.adobe.com/devnet/flex/videos/fab/
• Simple Example of Flex/Javascript Interaction with ExternalInterfaces: http://blog.markloiseau.com/2012/02/javascript-flex-interaction-with-externalinterfaces/

External Links

• Flex Developer Center: http://www.adobe.com/devnet/flex/
• wikipedia: Adobe Flex
• Abdobe products page - FLEX: http://www.adobe.com/products/flex/
• Flex is cheap as chips: http://blog.daemon.com.au/archives/000257.html
• Why Extending Flex Sucks: http://arielsommeria.com/blog/2009/04/03/why-extending-flex-sucks/
• Flex Sucks: http://turbidwater.blogspot.com/2007/12/flex-sucks-ass.html
• Flex vs Silverlight vs AJAX vs JavaFX: http://gsjournals.wordpress.com/2009/01/15/flex-vs-silverlight-vs-ajax-vs-javafx/
• Flex vs AJAX -- Friends or Foes?: http://www.uiresourcecenter.com/ui-technologies/adobe-flex/whitepapers/FlexVsAJAXFriendsOrFoes.pdf
• Flex kicks XAML's ass: http://aralbalkan.com/784
• Adobe Developer Center -- Flex and Ajax: http://www.adobe.com/devnet/flex/flex_ajax.html
• RIA News - Flex vs. AJAX -- Stop The Madness!: http://flex.sys-con.com/node/508990
• Ajax is squeezed as Adobe builds up rival Flex toolset: http://www.computerweekly.com/Articles/2007/01/05/220986/ajax-is-squeezed-as-adobe-builds-up-rival-flex-toolset.htm
• When to Use Flex + AJAX: http://www.insideria.com/2008/02/when-to-use-flex-ajax.html
• More Websites Use Flash Than AJAX: http://www.flex888.com/909/more-websites-use-flash-than-ajax.html
• Flex vs. AJAX: http://work.whoischarles.com/content/flex-vs-ajax
• Flex-Ajax Bridge: http://labs.adobe.com/wiki/index.php/Flex_Framework:FABridge
• What is a Rich Internet Application (according to ADOBE)?: http://www.adobe.com/devnet/projects/ria/
• Adobe offers free Flex 3 license to unemployed developers: http://www.downloadsquad.com/2009/04/08/adobe-offers-free-flex-3-license-to-unemployed-developers/
• HTTP Requests -- RESTful and SOAP-style services in FLEX: http://livedocs.adobe.com/flex/3/html/help.html?content=data_intro_2.html
• Flex HTTPService -- When POST is GET: http://www.javaworld.com/community/node/2307
• FlexB – XML mapping for Flex: http://www.oksima.biz/index.php/articles/52-flex/186-flexb--xml-mapping-for-flex
• 1 in every 10 Java developer is learning Flex? -- survey says NO: http://www.oreillynet.com/onjava/blog/2007/01/1_in_every_10_java_developer_i.html
• Macromedia Flash to Flex (history): http://theopensourcery.com/osrevFlex.htm
• Adobe Updates Flex For Web 2.0 World: http://www.internetnews.com/xSP/article.php/3617041
• Java EE and Flex, Part 1: A compelling combination: http://www.javaworld.com/javaworld/jw-01-2009/jw-01-javaee-flex-1.html?page=5
• Building a simple interaction between Flex and JavaScript using the ExternalInterface API: http://www.adobe.com/devnet/flex/articles/flex_javascript.html
• External Interface: http://learn.adobe.com/wiki/display/Flex/External+Interface
• Basics of using the external API: http://livedocs.adobe.com/flex/3/html/help.html?content=19_External_Interface_02.html
• Finally Updated - Embedding HTML in a Flex application using an IFrame: http://www.deitte.com/archives/2006/08/finally_updated.htm
• Don't Use IFrames for HTML in Flex: http://www.deitte.com/archives/2008/07/dont_use_iframe.htm
• Testing Flex applications with FlexMonkey 1.0: http://www.adobe.com/devnet/flex/articles/flexmonkey.html
• Client-Side Image Manipulation and Upload using Flex 3 (fp10) and Zend AMF: http://blog.pigdev.com/?p=137
• When to use Flex-Ajax bridge: http://insideria.com/2008/02/when-to-use-flex-ajax.html
• Integrating Flex into Ajax applications: http://www.ibm.com/developerworks/web/library/wa-aj-flex/index.html?ca=dgr-lnxw82wa-aj-flex&S_TACT=105AGX59&S_CMP=GRsitelnxw82
• Flex/Flash ExternalInterface: http://livedocs.adobe.com/flex/3/langref/flash/external/ExternalInterface.html
• Embed The YouTube Chromeless Player In Your Flex Application: http://otoh.typepad.com/on_the_other_hand/2008/06/embed-the-youtu.html
• Invoking the Flex Compiler from Adobe AIR… with Merapi and the Flex Compiler API: http://blog.petermolgaard.com/2009/06/30/invoking-the-flex-compiler-from-adobe-air-with-merapi-and-the-flex-compiler-api/
• Adobe donates Flex to Apache: http://www.techworld.com.au/article/407714/adobe_donates_flex_apache/
• Adobe answers your questions about Flex: http://blogs.adobe.com/flex/2011/11/your-questions-about-flex.html

See Also

Flash