Flash AS3 programming - mid thoughts
I’ve finally discovered the joy of programming AS3… I can do everything the designer has done in Flash with a couple of lines of code!!
Last time I played with Flash was Flash 4 or 5, I didn’t use AS at all back then, relying on the timeline. It was interesting, but it simply took too long to do anything interesting back then!
Today AS3 seems to have given Flash a new lease of life. Now, comparing js coding to AS3 coding it is very similar and the advantage of js vs AS3 is enourmous! Particularly when we’re talking about performance and the ability to control graphically what happens.
I (heart) flash! Shame it isn’t as “accessible” as it could be. This is one big reason why I cannot use Flash in commercial business sites in the UK!
I’m not going to go and argue about Flash vs js, all I’m going to say is, I cannot see how js browser implementations can catch up to Flash in terms of the amount of power it gives us! Simply put, if I have to compare Flash with anything (other than silverlight). Flash apps is closer to Java web apps than js.
Anyhoos… Flash has definitely got a future if Adobe can first and foremost make it as accessible as it could possibly be! (i.e. make it screenreader compatible for Macs and Linux - not just those on specific software in Windows! and also give us developers more control over accessible content and be a bit more “smart” about automatic accessible contents!)
Been digging around PV3D, looks awesome, then got reminded about “Adobe” Director, I just can’t figure out what Adobe is trying to do - I think they’re very confused themselves what to do with so many packages that are now coming together in different ways. (Flash & Flex)…. why oh why are you splitting these apart! I know you’re doing it for the money, but lets be realistic, if us developers have to buy 3 different packages that in the end comes together as a single site. I would very much think of other alternatives…. (silverlight - thank god there is competition - albeit from another monopoly!)
This concludes this session of Flash ramblings. Later.
