Adobe Flex 3.0 For Dummies (For Dummies (Computer/Tech)) (Paperback)

by Doug McCune (Author), Deepa Subramaniam (Author)
Key Phrases: remote data, flex button, peak memory, Flex Builder, Flash Player, Flex Navigator (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
Ready to flex your Web development muscles and start building rich Internet applications? With Flex 3.0, you can create great RIAs that perform like desktop applications using Adobe Flash Player, which is already installed on more than 95 percent of Internet-connected computers. And the fun and easy way™ to get up to speed on Flex is with Adobe Flex 3.0 For Dummies.

This friendly guide shows you how Flex lets you leverage the power of Adobe’s ubiquitous Flash technology to build large applications. If you’ve written code in any language, Adobe Flex 3.0 For Dummies will get you started, introduce you to FlexBuilder and the Flex framework, and have you building some really “flashy” stuff before you know it. You’ll find out how to:

• Develop interactive applications without worrying about browser differences
• Use the Event Model
• Work with ActionScript and MXML
• Build simple user interface controls and data-driven controls
• Set up data binding
• Format and validate user data
• Create, run, and clean a project
• Explore Flex manager classes
• Work with styling and skinning Flex components

All the code used in the book is on the companion Web site to save you that much more time. Adobe Flex 3.0 For Dummies helps you become Flex-literate in a flash!

From the Back Cover
Get going with Flex, and create RIAs in a Flash!

Develop interactive applications without worrying about browser differences

Flex lets you leverage the power of Adobe's ubiquitous Flash technology to build large applications. If you're eager to create Flex apps and you've written code in any language, this book will get you started, introduce you to Flex Builder and the Flex framework, and have you building some really flashy stuff before you know it!

Discover how to:

• Use the event model

• Work with ActionScript® and MXML

• Create, run, and debug a project

• Build simple user interface controls

• Set up data binding

• Explore styling and skinning

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 416 pages
• Publisher: For Dummies (August 11, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0470277920
• ISBN-13: 978-0470277928
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 7.4 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.4 out of 5 stars See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #133,001 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great first book for Flex, August 9, 2008

By	Matthew Chotin (San Francisco, CA USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

As one of the Product Managers for Flex at Adobe, I am often asked for pointers to resources to learn Flex. Flex is admittedly a complex set of tools, and even with our excellent documentation and resources it can be a bit overwhelming. Adobe Flex 3.0 for Dummies is a great resource for those looking for a one-stop shop to get started. The basic underpinnings of the languages are explained, the basics of using Flex Builder are right up front, and you get a really great high-level overview of everything Flex can do.

If you've been intimidated in getting started with Flex, I highly recommend this book.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Good Flex 3 Book for Beginning/Intermediate Flex Developers, November 13, 2008

By	Daniel Wilson "www.nodans.com" (Durham NC) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Don't let the "for Dummies" title fool you. This book is designed to teach the most important parts of the Adobe Flex framework in a clear, efficient manner.

Maybe this unparalleled clarity and quality is because one of the authors is part of the Adobe Flex team or maybe it is just because the other author is one of the most prolific, dynamic, sought after Adobe Flex developers. Either way, this book will get you up to speed on Adobe Flex development.

The book develops in a clear, uncluttered style for which the Dummies franchise is known. Also, scattered through the writings at appropriate times are callouts for Tips, Points to Remember, Technical Details and Warnings. These features will help you retain important parts of the teachings by reinforcing the principles.

My top two favorite parts of this book were Part 5 "Exploring Advanced Flex Topics" and Part 6 "The Power of Tens". This book is worth the cover price if only for those two chapters.

In short, if you want to learn to program using the Adobe Flex framework, or want to be more proficient at programming with the Adobe Flex framework, order this book.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Book for Dummies Written by the Experts, September 23, 2008

By	Thomas Ortega II "Community Builder" (Walnut Creek, CA United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

When I found out Doug and Deepa were writing the Flex book for Dummies, I'll admit I was shocked. These two people could easily write the most advanced book on Flex, but a book that by default of its expert level would have been accessible by few.

With so much Flex knowledge in their heads, can this really be a book for dummies? Yes, it can. I'll prove it with a quote from the book. In Chapter 16 (Custom Components and Component Architecture), Doug and Deepa explain how to make a custom component in MXML, not ActionScript. You'll find this little gem in the "Choosing between MXML and ActionScript" section:

"Because creating ActionScript components is an advanced topic (we could write a book on it!), we cover only MXML components in this chapter."

They know their audience and thankfully take it easy on them. The writers gives a taste of Flex's greatness, without getting too deep into all the complex magic that happens behind the scenes.

Anyone looking to get up to speed on Flex would do good to pick this up. After you get comfortable with the basics, go check out the authors individual blogs for more advanced information.

I took my copy of the book into the office, where it was rather quickly "borrowed" by a coworker. I'll likely have to buy another copy just to have at home, where no one can "borrow" it. :)

I want to be clear that I know Doug and Deepa on a personal level. They speak at my conferences and participate in my user group. Does this make my review biased? No. Instead, it gives me insight into their personalities. It helps me understand why they spent so much of their precious time to make life easier for those just getting started with Flex vs those advanced enough to find their own way. Although, I say they still should write an advanced book. If they get started now, it should be done when the buyers of this book are ready for something a bit more advanced.