I'm looking to have a couple of plugins in a Flex project I'm working on. I know I can load a SWF using the SWFLoader, but I thought in Flex3 you can now have Runtime Shared Libraries or something. Does anyone have any good documentation on loading a plugin at runtime? Ideally I'd like to be able to load a plugin from a URL, then execute some code from within the plugin (e.g. add a control to the page).
You can use either Modules or RSL.
RSLs have the advantage of getting cached by flash rather than the browser so they stick around longer.
Modules are easier to create and use. I have used modules and had issues with modules failing to load (code needs to handle that case). I haven't tried RSLs yet.
Here is some documentation on creating RSLs http://labs.adobe.com/wiki/index.php/Flex_3:Feature_Introductions:Flex_3_RSLs
Note that, currently, loaded RSLs must be compiled against the very same version of the Flex framework.. if you plan for a "binary" plugin system, probably you want to wait for the Marshall plan feature to be implemented, in the next Flex version.
If you want to try a new and alternative approach, this is a application core framework modelled after java OSGi: http://www.potomacframework.org/
I haven't tried it myself, but it looks really cool!
Related
I have a problem with my Flex Builder Plug-in.
I'm using the Flex Builder 3 Plug-in in my Flex application (in Eclipse).
Now I want to customize the MessageResponder.as File in the Plug-In. I found the ActionScript File without any problems, but the point is, that my changes doesn't cause anything because the file is allready compiled. (That's my guess)
Now my question:
How can I compile the file after editing it? Is there a possibility at all?
Thanks for your help!!
What you want to do is called "Monkey Patching." What you need to do is create your own version of the file in the same package location, and yours will be used in preference to the one from the swc.
The MessageResponder.as class is a file in the Flex Framework. You can modify it if you want, and--in essence--create your own version of the Flex SDK. However, you will most likely have to re-buld the entire framework for this to work. You're best bet for doing this is to get the source for the most current Apache Flex SDK; modify your class and then build the framework from scratch. After that you can use the Flash Builder "multi-SDK feature" to use your modified SDK in a Flex Project.
I'm not sure if Flex Builder 3.x supports multiple SDKs.
This may be a time consuming process. The alternative is to extend the MessageResponder and add your changes. Then you'll have to make sure that your new MessageResponder class is used instead of the old MessageResponder class. This could difficult due to many private methods used in the Flex Framework.
can any one help me that where is the SWC or run time library for the flex controls exist in the system?
Or can we provide our own library by using the controls in the dir
C:\Program Files\Adobe\flex_sdk_3.2\frameworks\projects\framework\src\mx
It is not very obvious what are you trying to ask but I'll try to guess :)
So the SWC with Flex controls is located here {Flex.SDK.root}/frameworks/libs/framework.swc and the corresponding RSLs are located here {Flex.SDK.root}/frameworks/rsls.
What about providing your own library to replace Flex controls I think it is not the right way. The best practice is not modify Flex SDK installation to have possibility to build your project on every computer with different environments (on a different developers computers or on client site).
And you should take in mind there are 4 standard ways to use code in Flash application:
Compile your code into SWF.
Use Runtime Shared Library aka RSL (which is SWF too).
Use SWZ which is signed and can be cached by Flash Player.
Use modules which are SWFs.
None of these ways doesn't suppose using Flex SDK in runtime. Flex SDK is being used only in process of building of your application.
So the best way to use some custom controls is to build them with your application using one of the ways I described above (excluding SWZ's which can be produced only by Adobe).
Just leave Flex SDK installation without changes and place classes/SWCs with custom controls in your project's classpath.
Hope this helps.
I'm preparing to reorganize & refactory a Flash Builder application. The goals of the reorg are 1.) keep compile times for the part of the project I'm working on as fast as possible, 2.) keep the unrelated parts separate for code reuse. Goal #1 trumps goal #2 if there's a trade-off.
Currently, the app has assets in one project, core functionality AS3 in another project, and the MXML in a third project that links to the other two.
Would moving resources/code into swc libraries help compile time? What about compiling assets into an swf and embedding that into the main application? Any other techniques?
We had the same problem, application compile time was more than 1 minute.
Here is our solution:
There is a Core Library that contains class Core with static properties like: Core.resourceManager:IResourceManager, Core.stringManager:IStringManager, etc.
Main application project includes Core Library and provides implementation for all Core.someProp. This can be done via some hidden method like Core.setImpelentation().
There are unlimited number of Modules that use Core Library to contribute their display / logic to the application. Important:
Each Module is a separate Flash Builder project
Module link Core Library as external (it's included in Main App)
Module has XML-file that describes it, example it's name and icon in application control bar. It allows not to load all modules at start.
User should be able to choose which modules he would like to use. This will also help you in development.
You can optionally create Lib Library and include in it all classes that are common between modules and can be implemented using Core Library.
The result is incredible - you application becomes low-coupled, open/compile time decreases, APIs become more clear. Profit!
Modules are definitely the way to go here, as Maxim has described. Further to his advice, which is all solid, here's some other tips:
Extract styles out to a separate project, and compile the .css to a SWF. Load the SWF at runtime.
Structure your packages by business function first, MVC role second,
Eg: Rather than com.myapp.model.userconfig.UserOptions, use com.myapp.userconfig.model.UserOptions. Enforce that packages can only reference their siblings, or com.myapp.core.*.
This way, each package is a self contained module, which only references itself, or the core library.
Consider the Hellfire Compiler, which can farm your compilation over several CPU's in parallel
If not already, consider moving to the Flex 4 SDK, which has several compiler performance improvements, especially around compiling multiple SWC's.
I have modifyed XMLEncoder class from Flex SDK (XMLEncoder.as)
After it I run my project but I don't see any changes...
What should I do to realy modify project's behaviour?
Thanks!!!
It's not usually recommended but what you are trying to do is Monkey Patching. You can just copy your modified source file into your project and then you application's XMLEncoder will overwrite the one used in Flex (because of how the Flex linker works). This doesn't work with the framework RSLs though.
If you don't see changes, this means sources aren't used - swc is used instead. To use modified sources, recreate folder structure for the class you modified and put source there. You may see a lot of errors (most of the time because include directive), this means you need to copy files needed to satisfy dependencies.
Maybe this is not the right way, but sometimes it's the only option to fix broken Flex class, so professional Flex developer masters it sooner or later :)
Is it possible for my application to monitor a folder that if we copy a DLL (library) in it, the application will pick it up and link it?
I did a similar thing in C++ back in the days but is it possible to dynamically link a library in .NET?
Thanks
Using reflection you could.
Poll the directory for added files, and then if you find one, load it using reflection and run some Main method inside it.
However you can't "unload" these DLLs unless they are loaded into seperate AppDomains.
Absolutely. See this SO question or consider using the MEF.