Adobe Flex 3: Training from the Source (Paperback)

by Jeff Tapper (Author), Michael Labriola (Author), Matthew Boles (Author), James Talbot (Author)
Key Phrases: flex project, web services, visualizing data, Flex Builder, Flash Player, Using Remote (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
Part of the Adobe Training from the Source series, the official curriculum from Adobe, developed by experienced trainers. Using project-based tutorials, this book/CD volume is designed to teach the techniques needed to create sophisticated, professional-level projects. Each book includes a CD that contains all the files used in the lessons, plus completed projects for comparison. In the course of the book, the reader will build several Web applications using Flex Builder incorporating MXML and ActionScript 3.0. This title covers the component framework for Rich Internet Applications, Adobe Flex 3.0. New Flex 3 features covered in this edition are: the advanced DataGrid, Data Connectivity Wizards, Modularizing the Flex application, and options for deploying your Flex project with AIR (Adobe Integrated Runtime).

About the Author
Jeff Tapper has been developing Internet-based applications since 1995, and is a certified master Instructor for all of Adobe's Flex, ColdFusion, and Flash courses. Michael Labriola is a Senior Consultant and Project Lead for Digital Primates, Inc., where he has been working with Flex since the 1.0 beta. Matthew Boles is the Technical Lead for the Adobe Customer Training group and has been developing and teaching courses on Flex since the 1.0 release. James Talbot has been with Adobe for 6 years and has extensive experience developing Flex authorized courseware as well as the certification exams.

Product Details

• Paperback: 696 pages
• Publisher: Adobe Press; 2 edition (April 6, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0321529189
• ISBN-13: 978-0321529183
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 7.3 x 1.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.5 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars See all reviews (32 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #88,707 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Probably the best Flex 3 reference, May 20, 2008

By	Aaron Turner (Harrisburg, PA) - See all my reviews

I just finished the book from cover to cover. It took me about 3 weeks with some evenings and a couple of full days.

To grasp everything, I commented all the code as I was going. I mean, comments that explain in detail my perception of what was happening. I thought that this allowed me to actually think about what I was doing rather than just taking a typing test.

Indeed, that is the trouble with this book, it is easy to not "pay attention" as everything you learn is by example with little up front theory. You could find yourself typing 100 lines of code and not actually realizing what you were typing.

If you get this book for learning Flex rather than looking up quick examples, you'll be happy.

There were a few code example problems (errors) that were easy to figure out and correct in lieu of any errata that I could find. There are times when they are a little short on explanation as well.

I still find myself having just a couple of basic questions about some of the examples.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Get into Flex in under 40 hours, June 20, 2008

By	Gregory Cerveny (Denver, CO USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This book is the perfect option for those curious about Flex and in need of an engaging hand holding session. While completion of this book will not ready the reader for the growing market of high paying flex gigs, it will provide the occasional developer with enough knowledge to start tinkering, and most importantly, feel comfortable in the development environment.

My best advice to the reader completing this course, is to ease through the exercises and realize that with the breadth of flex, there are concepts that you won't understand till later lessons. Simply read, follow instructions, and enjoy the hands on in depth tour of this product.

It would be impossible to cover all of Flex, MXML, and ActionScript in one text, let alone attempt to teach best practices and application design. Given broad subject matter though, it does a great job tapping into many areas. While the book lacks in depth, it gives a good enough overview for doors to open for the curious.

Most of the text is accurate providing clean examples that take the watchful reader from code to compile with no errors. Halfway into the book (starting around Chapter 11), small glitches creep into the material from missing semi-colons to missing starter lesson files. For the apt student, these are overcome with a little active thinking.

I would recommend this book to any entry level RIA developers and would even consider it as a text for intern programs and in-house training.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent for Flex, AS3 understanding is helpful, May 21, 2008

By	S. Brown - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I'm a programmer who has been tasked with learning ActionScript and Flex for a new project. I first picked up Foundation ActionScript 3.0 with Flash CS3 and Flex (Foundation) in an effort to learn both. I found that book difficult to digest as someone who didn't have previous experience w/ Flash. I then purchased this book, and it has been immensely helpful. It has lots of concrete examples to aid your understanding of the concepts being taught.

The book is upfront about it not being an intro to ActionScript, however some understanding of ActionScript is helpful. ActionScript and Flex more even more closely linked then ActionScript and Flash, and I don't know that the book would be as helpful to me if I hadn't picked up AS before picking up this book. All of the examples require some use of AS, so if you don't have clue 1 regarding AS, you might be in the dark.

The book can move a bit slow at times, as there is a lot of material to cover. Personally, I didn't mind this because everything that is covered is absolutely relevant to developing Flex applications. The book also indirectly teaches good design methodologies as a result of the order in which the lessons run. This book is an excellent tool.