INTRODUCTION TO

FLEX

Sumit RaySumit RayPrajyot RajigarePrajyot Rajigare

INDEX• What is flex• Why use flex• What do you code flex apps in• MXML• ActionScript• Flex Component• Flex Events• Pre-requisite for flex developer• Recent Versions Of Flex• Competitors• Advantages• Disadvantages• Final word

WHAT IS FLEX

Flex is a framework for creating RIA’s based on flash player.

Defining exactly what Flex is can be confusing because Flex actually includes a combination of different technologies.

Flex is not a single software product,but instead includes the four main pieces

WHAT IS FLEX1. Languages• ActionScript• MXML

2. Component Framework• Flex SDK

3. Integrated Development Environment (IDE)• Flex Builder

4. Cross-browser runtime• Flash player

WHAT IS FLEX

WHY USE FLEXTo develop RIA’s

Client side Intelligence

Cross-platform, accessible applications Richer and capable control library

It'll run on all the current browserson all platforms.

WHAT DO YOU CODE FLEX APPS INMXML

XML-Based language used to describe UI layout and behaviors of FLEX apps

ActionScript

Object oriented programming language used to write methods in the application

WHAT DO YOU CODE FLEX APPS IN MXML• It is the Heart of Flex

• Used to lay out user interface components

• Also to declaratively define non-visual aspects of an application,

Access to data sources on the server Data bindings between UI components and data sources on the server.

WHAT DO YOU CODE FLEX APPS IN

MXML• It is more structured than HTML, and it provides a much richer tag set

e.g. data grids, trees, tab navigators, accordions,etc.

• You can write an MXML application in a single file or in multiple files

• MXML also supports custom components written in MXML and ActionScript files.

WHAT DO YOU CODE FLEX APPS IN

ACTION SCRIPT• Is the programming language for the flex

• It enables interactivity, data handling

• ActionScript is executed by the ActionScript Virtual Machine (AVM).

• It is easy to being familiar with AS who has basic knowledge of OOP.

FLEX COMPONENTS

• Component library provides UI controls

Simple : Buttons, Checkboxes, Radio ButtonsComplex : Data grids and combo boxes

• Developers use provided components to design complex layouts and use (or modify) the skins for a better look

FLEX EVENTS• Flex applications are event driven

• When the user interacts with an interface component or when changes occur in the appearance of a component, an event is dispatched

• When an event is dispatched, event listeners, also called event handlers, designed in ActionScript are called on to process the event

PRE-REQUISITE FOR FLEX DEVELOPER

• Familiar with Object oriented concepts.

• Some exposure to web development and basic knowledge related to web applications

• Knowledge of web services using Java / Spring

• Knowledge of basic and complex UI Components.

VERSIONS• Flex 1.0

March 2004

• Flex 1.5 October 2004

• Flex 2.0 June 28, 2006

• Flex 3.0 February 25, 2008

VERSIONS

• Flex 4 March 22, 2010

• Flex 4.5 November 30, 2011

• Flex 4.6 February 22, 2012

COMPETITORS

• OpenLaszlo

• Microsoft Silverlight

• Curl

• JavaFX

ADVANTAGES Flex is for everyone, Flex is for all

Flex applications have boadest reach

Cross-platform and native experience

Flex makes your application look good

Performance

Real time

Rich media

Offline Support

Accessible

DISADVANTAGES There is no server-side component to ActionScript so you need to find a way to pass data between Flex and your backend.

Flex does not have any built-in support for multithreading, which complicates the situation further

Flex does not read or write files to the end-user’s computer. This is a restriction of the Flash Player.

And the most important thing is, we need adobe flash player to run the application.

FINAL WORD

“ Flex is for flexible..”

Thank you..!