I have been using flex builder plug-in. But now trial period has expired and looking for some other option which comes free. I am trying to install flash develop plugin for eclipse. In my attempt to install I am trying this page but donno what all plugins to install...http://www.flashdevelop.org/wikidocs/index.php?title=3rd_Party_Plugins ...Can some one please guide. The problem i am facing here is I am not sure about what is outdated and what is useful
FlashDevelop is a standalone application (windows only), as far I know there is no plugin for eclipse. If you are searching for an eclipse plugin, there's the commercial FDT, with a 30 day trial period.
A new FlashDevelop version (4.0) is about to be released and most plugins from the old version aren't compatible with the new one. So I unless there's a new list somewhere or some plugin explicitly states that it supports the new version, every plugin there is probably outdated. Anyway, many plugins from that list have been integrated in FlashDevelop. You can of course use the latests stable 3.x version if you need a particular plugin.
If you've never used FlashDevelop, you should just try the stable 3.3.4 or the latest 4.0 beta or the very latest developement build and see if you are missing some features.
You could always write your code in Notepad and use the command line compiler provided in the free SDK. It's not going to be as nice as any IDE, but it is functional.
Another option, if you are a student or unemployed, is to request a complimentary license to Flash Builder from Adobe.
Another option is to use Tofino, a Free Visual Studio Plugin for Flex Development. However, you'll need Visual Studio for that to work. [And I assume a Windows Machine].
FlashDevelop, as others have noted, is not an Eclipse Plugin as far as I knew. It is a stand alone tool.
Other IDEs for building Flex applications are:
Sapphire Steel Amethyst, which is a commercial Visual Studio
Plugin
FDT; which is an eclipse based plugin. I believe FDT5
will have a free / community option, but I do not know if it is
available yet.
IntelliJ, which many developers swear by.
And of course Flash Builder. I believe the previous three are all commercial plugins, so do not fill your "free" Criteria.
Related
There is this similar question but I think it was answered when Flash Builder was still Flex Builder.
I need to buy Flash Builder and really the Adobe site is not clear about the different versions. I need to know what is the difference between the standard and the premium editions. Is there a lack of components in the standard? Is there anything that I won´t be able to compile in standard or the differences are just in terms of the IDE functionality?
Thank you
The main differences between Standard and Premium versions are:
Premium version has possibility to create and run unit tests within IDE.
Premium version has profiler.
Premium version has Network Monitor (to see requests and responses).
Premium version has advanced Data wizards (to generate code by WSDL or to generate server side BlazeDS/LCDS code by DB).
Premium version has possibility to operate with automation libraries.
All the other standard libraries, including data visualization (charts and ADG), are free and open-sourced and available in SDK since (if I not mistaken) 3.2 SDK version.
So if you need:
Code editing.
Debugger.
Design view.
Refactoring.
Compiling (including AIR).
SDK features and libraries.
Multi SDK features.
In this case Standard version is enough.
You can see link to the compare matrix which hasn't all the features listed in # www.Flextras.com comment :)
Just a simple question:
Would you prefer IntelliJ? If so, what are the Pro- and Cons?
Thx
I'd prefer IntelliJ for any Java project. I'll also point out that ReSharper is a Visual Studio plug-in that provides a lot of the same niceties for .NET. It's also written by JetBrains.
Pros:
Smartest IDE I know. Everything works together. It's not a Frankenstein monster stitched together from disparate plug-ins that don't know about each other.
Best Spring support.
Keeps getting better with every release.
Great integration with SVN, databases, Java EE app servers.
Local and remote debugging with Java EE app servers.
Cons:
Not free. If that puts you off, IntelliJ isn't for you.
Swing UI support isn't the best, but I'm not much of a Swing/desktop developer.
Not Eclipse. If you're a dyed in the wool Eclipse lover you may not like IntelliJ.
I used Eclipse for many years. I liked it and felt grateful to have something so good when my employer wouldn't lay out any money for tools.
Then I changed jobs and was given IntelliJ. I've never gone back. I buy a personal license every year with my own money so I can use it at home and at work. It's an essential tool for me.
In the software projects that I participate developers use either Eclipse or IntelliJ, simply because they are used to either one of them. No one of my collegues switched the IDE yet, so there does not seem to be a "killer application/feature".
I heard that NetBeans is better than Eclipse, especially NetBeans is supposed to be more stable with regard to plugins - this is the only aspect of Eclipse that really troubles me: You either do not find a plugin that you need (I'm still looking for a Maven plugin that actually works) or installing one plugin breaks another.
I want to play around a bit with FLASH for app development. I'm looking for a good IDE for that. Someone suggested Flash Develop.
Flash Builder
Pros
better debugging and profiling
visual designer for MXML
because of Eclipse: support for other languages (eg. with Aptana, PDT...) and usage of plug-ins for the Eclipse Platform with features not shipped with FlexBuilder (code snippets with CFEclipse "Dynamic Snippets", "auto-code" for getter/setters with Monkey scripts...)
support of virtual folders/files (links to external files/folders handled intern by Eclipse, so also working on Windows)
refactoring (renaming of classes, functions, properties with automatic changing of dependencies)
Cons
Commercial license
Big and because of Eclipse problematic with newer Eclipse versions for the FlexBuilder plug-in version (eg. not working with Eclipse Ganymede 3.4.1)
adding and configuring the missing features with Eclipse plug-ins needs time and searching in the Internet (which plug-in? settings etc.)
Code assist only average and sometimes buggy eg. if correct imports are missing ("java.lang.NullPointerException")
missing of a code formatter or automatic get/setters (but there are solutions with other Eclipse plugins like Monkey Scripts, CFeclipse, Flexformatter "FlexPrettyPrintCommand"...)
sometimes a bit sluggish if background tasks in Eclipse are working
no package explorer
AS2 and AS3 only - no Haxe
FlashDevelop
Pros
free and Open Source (developed with C#)
lightweight and snappy
best available Code Assist for ActionScript
supports all flash languages - AS2, AS3, haxe
"auto code" for automatic getter/setter, variables, code for event handlers
code snippets with integrated snippet editor
extendible with plug-ins
support for asdoc comments
package explorer (show classes, symbols from a SWC file)
basic refactoring
multiple source code folders per project
useful plugins : ANT integration, SWC creation, mini map, quick navigate
Cons
only for Windows
no visual designer for MXML
no support of virtual folders/files inside the project
weak refactoring
changing classpaths must be done manually
plug-ins often not working in newer versions and many plug-ins are only rarely updated
limited support for debugging Haxe applications
Common
Pros
projects for full range of flash apps : websites, AIR (desktop, mobile)
debugging of FP/AIR apps with breakpoints and stepping
debugging with watch windows and locals
support for ASDoc comments
automatic adding of imports and organizing of imports
class wizard
SVG/GIT integration
Cons
no editing of graphics or animation (use Flash IDE for that)
Summary
For debugging, visual design of MXML forms : Flash Builder
For coding AS2/AS3/Haxe projects under Windows : FlashDevelop
Major reason to use FlexBuilder: has a real debugger you can set breakpoints and single step and watch/edit variables.
Unless FlashDevelop has .. developed .. don't think it got any of that yet.
BTW - if you are a student/teacher FlexBuilder can be had for free
Flex builder has a design view for MXML so you can build more visually. Flashdevelop on the other hand is free!
I've been using Flash Developer. Trying now FlashDevelop. FlashDevelop is fast and light, and I'm trying to switch just because of that.
I'm using HG + TortoiseHG for source control. I have 2 screens, so having external source control is not a big problem. Also the IDE stays a little cleaner by not having all the little source control icons.
DesignView helps with not having integrated design.
Also, I can debug with FlashDevelop and see the variables. I'm using FD3.2.1.
Along with what was already mentioned, Flex Builder has some nice tools that helps a developer to learn how to create a data enabled Flex application in form of the Data Wizards and also a nice web services introspection tool that automatically creates an ActionScript 3 client for a web service.
I'm using the new Jetbrains IntelliJ 8, and it's great (especially if your used to java developement). Has a lot better XML/JavaScript editors that any other IDE.
The latest version of IntelliJ also has a good flex/javascript debugger.
Here are two objective contrasts between FlashDevelop (with the Flex 3 SDK) and FlexBuilder. First, only FlexBuilder includes AdvancedDataGrid. Second, FlashDevelop has no source control integration.
AdvancedDataGrid is not included in either the free or open source Flex 3 SDKs; if you want it, you have to buy FlexBuilder. (I assume it is probably possible to use it via another SDK if you possess FlexBuilder.)
FlashDevelop doesn't have any source control integration, FlexBuilder possesses the existing, stable source control options for Eclipse. This includes Subclipse for SVN, as well as a lot of other things. As a longtime Visual Studio and Emacs user, in FlashDevelop I'm beginning to feel unsatisfied with leaving the editor to check in.
Flash Builder, even in version 4.5, has primitive, useless syntax coloring and customization features. From a 700$ package I was expecting at least what I can do with my free text editor.
In the syntax coloring preferences, there is a total of 6 keywords, and you cannot add any custom one.
How am I expected to code having variable names, function calls, and classes look exactly the same?
I will stick to Flash Pro CS5.5 and SciTe.
I have created a desktop app and now I need to install in on a client's computer.
However, the client would like to have a wizard to install. Like Visual Studio setup project allows you to add an installer.
Does Qt allow you to create an installer or do I need to use a 3rd party installer like InstallShield or Wise?
You should use the Qt Installer Framework :
http://doc.qt.io/qtinstallerframework/ifw-overview.html
I use Inno and like it a lot. I've tried a few others and this one worked well for me. (and free)
You definitely need a third party installer. A few good ones have already been mentioned. If you decide to go with a paid solution bitrock's installer is a perfect choice and they are also Qt centric and their main business is around Qt.
As an open source alternative I would suggest NSIS
If you only target Windows, you can use WiX (Windows Installer XML), which can be integrated into Visual Studio and MSBuild, so relatively easy to use. It's free and produces valid MSI files, which may be a requirement anyway.
If you rather need a simple wizard setup, give InnoSetup a try.
I think better to use a third party software like installshield. They are optimized for the packaging purpose and provide much customizable options.
If you have Visual Studio already, you can continue to use a setup project to distribute your application. The tools are built in. This is the technology that WiX "replaced" (more on that later), and it's what I do. It's not an ideal solution, but it gets me an MSI, which is how Windows software should be installed these days. Using InstallShield or something might be better, but to be honest I've never had a good experience with any third party installers. This is why I just stuck with the less-than-ideal setup project; it beats spending a lot on expensive, ugly and often frustrating third party installer creation tools. In short, it's a very pragmatic solution, and pragmatic solutions make sense.
As for WiX: I really don't recommend it at all. It seems like a great idea, but after a few months I found myself switching back to the setup projects. Even though he's been using WiX for a year more than I have been using setup projects, our WiX expert takes twice as long to get anything done. (He's a terrific programmer, too, just a bit blinded by open source.) You end up with thousands of copied text lines that you need to maintain. With a couple different projects, it becomes an unmaintainable mess.
I would not suggest attempting to build an installer in Qt yourself. In addition to having to get a lot of behavior just right, as a Qt application it will require the Qt libraries. Unless you statically link them, which is possible with the commercial edition (not LGPL) but difficult and not recommended. Plus then you'd be including two copies of the Qt libraries in your download.
Qt itself seems to use the nullsoft installer. That alone should tell you building your own is not a good idea. :)
Is it realistic to try and learn and code a Flex 3 application without purchasing FlexBuilder? Since the SDK and BlazeDS are open source, it seems technically possible to develop without Flex Builder, but how realistic is it.
I would like to test out Flex but don't want to get into a situation where I am dependent on the purchase of FlexBuilder (at least not until I am confident and competent enough with the technology to recommend purchase to my employer).
I am experimenting right now, so I'm taking a long time and the trial license on my Windows machine has expired. Also Linux is my primary development platform and there is only an alpha available for Linux.
Most of the documentation I've found seem to use Flex Builder.
Maybe I should use Laszlo...
IntelliJ IDEA works as a Flex IDE, if you happen to also be a Java developer. It's free if you contribute to open source projects.
Check out FlashDevelop for Windows. I like it better than Flex Builder.
I've been using Flex since version 2 and Flex3/BlazeDS since it came out of beta. I also have some experience with Lazzlo and the difference is day and night (Flex rocks!). I have not regretted once using Flex. Regarding FlexBuilder, it is worth every penny. While it is completely possible and reasonable to write Flex application without FlexBuilder, the productivity gains of using it will more than recoup the investment. Try the evaluation for 30 days and compare it to some of the other options suggested about (I'm going to try FlashDevelop).
Some things you get with FlexBuilder include:
Code completion
Visual editor
Debugger (it is fantastic!!)
Profiler (also very good)
Regarding Linux, the alpha version of FlexBuilder does not have a visual editor. Other than that, I understand it is reasonably feature complete, still free, and many of the Adobe employees I've talked with that use Linux are happy with it.
FlashDevelop is really easy to setup with the Flex SDK. Just download FlashDevelop, then download the Flex SDK. In FlashDevelop go to Tools > Program Options > AS3Context (under Plugins) > Set the "Flex SDK Location" to the root of the folder you extracted the SDK to and build away. FlashDevelop even has a basic MXML project that will get you going.
If you use ColdFusion for the backend, having FlexBuilder in Eclipse and CFEclipse can mean one less IDE to have to get familiar with.
I'm going to join the choir here and say FlashDevelop for an alternative. The only reasons you might want FlexBuilder are:
Flex charts
Step-through debugging.
Profiler (I haven't used it)
Visual style editor
However, the code-completion and general bloody-awesomeness of FlashDevelop's code-completion and syntax highlighting knocks the gimpy eclipse crap out of the water. So, pretty much what Todd said, except for the code-completion part. Flex Builder is very flakey in that department.
Short answer: Yes
I'm working on a team of developers and designers. We code our .MXML and .AS in FlashDevelop 3 and our designer creates .FLA with skins and widgets that get [Import()]ed in ActionScript.
I wrote a little more about this subject here:
Flash designer/coder collaboration best practices
I have been using FlashDevelop for along time (4/5 years), I am actively using it to develop Flex4.5 applications, it has built in support for code completion, it has a profiler and a debugger that work excellently. The IDE itself is responsive and require the .Net framework, in fact here, I'll list some stuff.
FlashDevelop Pros
Free IDE
Code completion feature
Very capable Debugger
Profiler
Documenting
Ability to build Air / Flex files
Templating
Plugins
FlashDevelop Cons
Lack of UI desing support
.Net support only (Won't work with Mono)
Everything else is pretty simple to get running with, the instructions are available at http://www.flashdevelop.org/
Absolutely. I've been a Flex developer since Flex 2 and until recently I've used my regular editor, TextMate, for coding and Ant for building. TextMate has some good extensions for ActionScript and Flex coding, but I think you could get that for any decent editor.
What's been missing from my setup is a usable debugger, the command line version is a pain to work with. Because of that I've been starting to use FlexBuilder on the side, using it in parallel with my regular setup.
Having a profiler doesn't hurt too.
I've been using FlexBuilder for awhile now and just started to switch to using Eclipse with Flex SDK. I work for a non-profit so the word FREE is huge.
Initially, it is fairly intimidating so if you have the money, you might want FlexBuilder.
There is a lot you need to know and do if you use the SDK. The learning and experience may pay off though... I am still undecided myself.
I second FlashDevelop. You don't get the visual design stuff for the MXML, but for the code (both MXML and AS) it's excellent.
I also use FlashDevelop when working on AS3 projects. For me, the ugliness (UI design) and sluggishness of Eclipse/Flex Builder is enough of a deterrent to stay away from Flex Builder.
In addition to the weaknesses of FlashDevelop pointed out previously, one of my biggest gripes is that it is not a true .NET only app and therefore will never work in mono and therefore can not be easily ported to the mac - which is my platform of choice for development web/javascript/AS3 development.
Amethyst is also a pretty good option to try. It is a plugin for MS Visual Studio, and takes advantage of a lot of the goodies there. It is significantly less sluggish than FlashBuilder, has a really good debugger, and a decent visual designer as well.
The personal version is free, but quite crippled. You have to buy the pro version after a 60 day free trial. However, it is (at time of writing) almost 1/3 the cost of Flash Builder.
As an added bonus you don't need to pay for Visual Studio since it works with the free (albeit hard to find) "shell version (integrated)" of Visual Studio. It won't work with any of the free Express editions, though.