I've been tasked with maintaining some existing flex 4.6 projects and am wanting to future proof them for the latest browsers. Should I move the projects over to Apache flex? If so what do I need to do to make these existing projects compatible with Apache flex?
No, you don't need to migrate these projects to Apache Flex.
Flex 4.6 projects can still be built and deployed; they just don't have the latest SDK changes. Your projects will remain compatible with future Flash Player versions.
The only reason to update to Apache Flex at this point is if you need features introduced in a later version of the Flex SDK.
Recent versions of the Apache Flex SDK have newer features, a large number of bug fixes, have been tested with the latest version of Flash Player, and in general have better performance and consume less memory than Adobe Flex 4.6.
So while Apache Flex is not required to run in the latest browsers you stil may want to consider moving to Apache Flex for these reasons.
My experience is with Flex/AIR desktop apps, I migrated using the Apache Flex installer to download latest SDK and AIR, then in the IDE you need to add the new SDK and select it. I did not had bugs or problems when I upgraded to latest versions(but you may encounter bugs or differences so you need to do some testing)
Does anyone know where I can still download flex 3.5 sdk? I just inherited a project which was developed in flex 3.5. I am having trouble configuring flash builder 4.6 to work with it.
You can get it here: http://download.macromedia.com/pub/flex/sdk/flex_sdk_3.5.zip
Are you aware that latest version is 4.10? Available here: http://flex.apache.org/
I am trying to Configure Server side Code in Flash Builder 4.5.I am Using LCDS 2.6.1.By clicking on validate configuration button I got message on top Only Life Cycle DataService 2.6 and higher are supported.I am using 2.6.1.still not able to figure out the issue.Please help.
This version of LCDS works with Action Script 3.x so make sure your flex SDK is 3.5 in Flash Builder 4.X. Also make sure you have included the correct LCDS JAR files in your flex project.
How do I compile from the Parsley framework repository to a Flex Library, so that i can use it with the latest 4.5 Flex framework? Step by step. Totally appreciated.
There is a ANT script in the sources you can launch to compile the project.
If you're still having issues with it, try the parsley forum, you'll probably get your answer there.
Out of curosity, what doesn't it work with the 4.5 SDK?
I want to develop an Adobe air application. Whats the difference between using the Air SDK or Flex SDK and what are the advantages / disadvantages? My application will use a SQLlite database and PHP may be involved later if I turn the whole thing into a web app.
thanks
"If you want to develop an Air application, you must use the Air SDK. If you want to develop a Flex application that runs on Air, you need to use both." - #joshtnjala
I believe #joshtnjala to be partially correct, but I wanted to add on it. If using the Flex 3.3 SDK, you no longer require the AIR SDK as those tools are available to the Flex 3.3 SDK. It is important to note, because I see a lot of confusion or misuse of the term, Flex is actually three things.
Flex SDK (currently 3.3)
allows developers without the Flash and/or Flex IDE's, to develop and compile/publish Actionscript3 and MXML code to flash content (SWF). For example, one could use FlashDevelop for an IDE, and compile the code using the Flex 3.3 SDK.
Flex Framework
(From adobe [http://www.adobe.com/products/flex/overview/][1]) Flex is a free, open source framework for building highly interactive, expressive web applications that deploy consistently on all major browsers, desktops, and operating systems. It provides a modern, standards-based language and programming model that supports common design patterns. MXML, a declarative XML-based language, is used to describe UI layout and behaviors, and ActionScript™ 3, a powerful object-oriented programming language, is used to create client logic. Flex also includes a rich component library with more than 100 proven, extensible UI components for creating rich Internet applications (RIAs), as well as an interactive Flex application debugger.
Flex Builder 3
Flex Builder is merely an IDE to assist in the development of flash (SWF), or AIR content. This builder utilizes the SDK above to compile. The framework may or may not be used depending on the developers needs. Many developers have taken themselves out of the FLASH IDE (THAT NASTY TIMELINE!) and began scripting their AS3 purely in the Flex Builder IDE as it provides many useful features for the "advanced" programmer; Not to mention its a very clean UI and is built on eclipse so it has many plugins and a solid community behind its architecture.
That being said, to expand on what joshtnala said, the difference between using the AIR SKD and the Flex 3.3 SDK, is that if you merely want to build an AIR app, composed of Actiosncript3 code, the AIR SDK is all you need (33mb unpacked). If you intend to use MXML and any part of the "Flex Framework" then you must use the Flex 3.3 SDK (190mb unpacked). This will allow you to use the many available components such as Datagrids, Accordions, etc, in your AIR application. So in the end, both will develop an AIR application as Flex 3.3 SDK incorporates the AIR 1.5 development tools. Abstract your project out, figure out what you will need, if a component works for that, or if a custom implementation is needed, etc, then choose your toolkit.
Hope this helps.
These frameworks are combinable. If you want your app to be both on the web and the desktop, make it using the Flex SDK, then wrap the desktop version of this using Air.
If you're considering deploying on the web, and communicating with a backend server and all that jazz, then flex is the way to go. If your target is desktop users, then AIR.
If you want to develop an Air application, you must use the Air SDK. If you want to develop a Flex application that runs on Air, you need to use both.