Comments on: Flex-ability http://www.peterelst.com/blog/2004/03/31/flex-ability/ Flash Platform Geek Wed, 04 Jan 2012 21:31:54 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Alex http://www.peterelst.com/blog/2004/03/31/flex-ability/comment-page-1/#comment-166 Alex Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 /?p=39#comment-166 Hi Peter,<br /> http://www.xquestion.com<br /> Thought you might be interested in this - it converts XML directly to SWF also. It is limited to only test/assessments/forms - but does .ttf conversion for fonts and allows incorporation of multiple other .swf files to produce a single swf with all the resources included.<br /> Alex.<br /> Central Question Hi Peter,
http://www.xquestion.com
Thought you might be interested in this – it converts XML directly to SWF also. It is limited to only test/assessments/forms – but does .ttf conversion for fonts and allows incorporation of multiple other .swf files to produce a single swf with all the resources included.
Alex.
Central Question

]]> By: Adam http://www.peterelst.com/blog/2004/03/31/flex-ability/comment-page-1/#comment-167 Adam Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 /?p=39#comment-167 If you look in the Flex livedocs http://livedocs.macromedia.com/flex under "Administering Flex", there is information about using a command line compiler. The $8.99 "Free" CD will end up costing close to $100 by the time it crosses the Candian border, so I'll wait until a downloadable version is available to play with, but perhaps this will make it easy for MM to sell a reasonably priced "non-server" version. $12,000 is probably reasonable for the type of big enterprise that is already paying $50K+ for WebSphere, WebLogic, etc. But a price comparable to Flash Pro would make Flex approachable to smaller businesses that simply want a more approachable method to displaying the odd dynamic datagrid or registration form. For these projects, once the SWF is compiled, there's no reason to have a Flex server continually check if recompiling is necessary. A command line compile version suddenly makes lots of sense. If you look in the Flex livedocs http://livedocs.macromedia.com/flex under “Administering Flex”, there is information about using a command line compiler. The $8.99 “Free” CD will end up costing close to $100 by the time it crosses the Candian border, so I’ll wait until a downloadable version is available to play with, but perhaps this will make it easy for MM to sell a reasonably priced “non-server” version. $12,000 is probably reasonable for the type of big enterprise that is already paying $50K+ for WebSphere, WebLogic, etc. But a price comparable to Flash Pro would make Flex approachable to smaller businesses that simply want a more approachable method to displaying the odd dynamic datagrid or registration form. For these projects, once the SWF is compiled, there’s no reason to have a Flex server continually check if recompiling is necessary. A command line compile version suddenly makes lots of sense.

]]> By: Peter http://www.peterelst.com/blog/2004/03/31/flex-ability/comment-page-1/#comment-168 Peter Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 /?p=39#comment-168 Good points Adam, thanks for that! I was oblivious to the fact they've already got a commandline compiler implemented. Also forgot to mention that the trial/developer edition is as you said only available to the wide public by ordering it on a cd-rom which is currently only available from the US, ordered with a credit card online and costs up to $40 USD to ship to Europe.<br /> <br /> I've worked with Flex and I can truly appreciate it saves a tremendous amount of time, helps you with your workflow and is a very good tool for scripting Flash based applications. <br /> <br /> Like yourself I can't really figure out why exactly it's primarily targeted as a server product. It generates SWF's on the server from an MXML source and caches those until a newer version is available. Other than that there is no real magic going on. The SWF itself typically uses things like XMLConnector and WebServiceConnector components that handle the data input so there usually isn't a great deal of hardcoded information in there that would need constant updating (though ofcourse you could build your application like that).<br /> <br /> Only time will tell, the technology in itself is very promising indeed and I'll probably be experimenting with it a lot more in future. Good points Adam, thanks for that! I was oblivious to the fact they’ve already got a commandline compiler implemented. Also forgot to mention that the trial/developer edition is as you said only available to the wide public by ordering it on a cd-rom which is currently only available from the US, ordered with a credit card online and costs up to $40 USD to ship to Europe.

I’ve worked with Flex and I can truly appreciate it saves a tremendous amount of time, helps you with your workflow and is a very good tool for scripting Flash based applications.

Like yourself I can’t really figure out why exactly it’s primarily targeted as a server product. It generates SWF’s on the server from an MXML source and caches those until a newer version is available. Other than that there is no real magic going on. The SWF itself typically uses things like XMLConnector and WebServiceConnector components that handle the data input so there usually isn’t a great deal of hardcoded information in there that would need constant updating (though ofcourse you could build your application like that).

Only time will tell, the technology in itself is very promising indeed and I’ll probably be experimenting with it a lot more in future.

]]> By: Libby Freligh http://www.peterelst.com/blog/2004/03/31/flex-ability/comment-page-1/#comment-169 Libby Freligh Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 /?p=39#comment-169 Hi - there was a hiccup in the system on the first day but the shipping price for the trial edition is $8.99, regardless of destination. Hi – there was a hiccup in the system on the first day but the shipping price for the trial edition is $8.99, regardless of destination.

]]> By: Peter Elst http://www.peterelst.com/blog/2004/03/31/flex-ability/comment-page-1/#comment-170 Peter Elst Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 /?p=39#comment-170 That's great, thanks for clearing that up Libby! That’s great, thanks for clearing that up Libby!

]]> By: Christian Cantrell http://www.peterelst.com/blog/2004/03/31/flex-ability/comment-page-1/#comment-171 Christian Cantrell Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 /?p=39#comment-171 "How many freelance Flash developers regularly work for clients that commission projects that would warrant an investment of anything near that cost?"<br /> <br /> This isn't really the target market for Flex at this time. The current version of Flex is really intended for enterprises who are interested in putting a rich, interactive, streamlined and highly efficient front-end on top of their existing J2EE (primarily) back-end. Of course, this isn't the only use, and keep in mind that this is only the initial 1.0 release, so the technology is certain to evolve, but we really want to focus on one particular market right now and not make the mistake of spreading ourselves too thin. Does that make sense? “How many freelance Flash developers regularly work for clients that commission projects that would warrant an investment of anything near that cost?”

This isn’t really the target market for Flex at this time. The current version of Flex is really intended for enterprises who are interested in putting a rich, interactive, streamlined and highly efficient front-end on top of their existing J2EE (primarily) back-end. Of course, this isn’t the only use, and keep in mind that this is only the initial 1.0 release, so the technology is certain to evolve, but we really want to focus on one particular market right now and not make the mistake of spreading ourselves too thin. Does that make sense?

]]> By: Peter http://www.peterelst.com/blog/2004/03/31/flex-ability/comment-page-1/#comment-172 Peter Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 /?p=39#comment-172 Thanks for your thoughts Christian, I appreciate that freelance developers aren't really the target market at this time. <br /> <br /> It does illustrate the various comments that are appearing throughout the community as they are typically seen from the freelance perspective. <br /> <br /> Can anyone actually point out what benefits there are in having Flex run as a server? Surely a Flex developer knows when the MXML code has changed and could easily trigger a manual recompile, or am I missing something? Thanks for your thoughts Christian, I appreciate that freelance developers aren’t really the target market at this time.

It does illustrate the various comments that are appearing throughout the community as they are typically seen from the freelance perspective.

Can anyone actually point out what benefits there are in having Flex run as a server? Surely a Flex developer knows when the MXML code has changed and could easily trigger a manual recompile, or am I missing something?

]]> By: Nico http://www.peterelst.com/blog/2004/03/31/flex-ability/comment-page-1/#comment-196 Nico Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 /?p=39#comment-196 Hi,<br /> I recieved my flex demo about a week ago. I was very surprised to see it in my mailbox just 4 days after my order. By now i've done some exercises from macromedia and i really love Flex. The only big disappointment is abviously the 12.000 dollar price tag. After just purchasing 2 professional communication server licenses i don't see my company investing in Flex anytime soon. It's an absolutely brilliant peice of technology but with a pricetag like this .... :[ Hi,
I recieved my flex demo about a week ago. I was very surprised to see it in my mailbox just 4 days after my order. By now i’ve done some exercises from macromedia and i really love Flex. The only big disappointment is abviously the 12.000 dollar price tag. After just purchasing 2 professional communication server licenses i don’t see my company investing in Flex anytime soon. It’s an absolutely brilliant peice of technology but with a pricetag like this …. :[

]]>