Customer Reviews

AdvancED ActionScript Components: Mastering the Flash Component Architecture

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I don't know Antonio De Donatis, but I wish I did.

As a Corporate Trainer of Internet Technologies for the past 10 years, I am always looking for well written and logically presented material for use in the classroom. ActionScript Components by Antonio De Donatis is one of the best I have ever seen in the ActionScript genre. On second thought, this is one of the best technical books I have ever seen, and I own hundreds.

My background is in XML, VoiceXML and Internet Technologies. I found this book on the friendsOfEd site, read the chapter on using XML and was astounded at the clarity and depth of knowledge. De Donatis is someone who knows his subject and knows how to impart information to his readers. I went to the local bookstore to see if the rest of the book could sustain that level of writing. The short answer: yes it does.

From explaining in layman terms how Object Oriented Programming works through delving into the creation and use of components, De Donatis knows his stuff. But better than that, he doesn't hide behind a bunch of geek speak. More than anything else, I kept saying to myself "That explanation is so clear, I wish I had written it myself."

Five star rating, highest there is, with no hesitation.

I wish I could tell you that I enjoyed reading this book, but that would not be an entirely true statement. I figured I should look into this title when I realized that I didn't know much about components or their underlying architectures. I won't lie; I don't use components, at all. I find them heavy in weight and hard to customize and I like the control that I receive when I make my own scrollbars, pull down menus, and loaders. That being said, I thought it was necessary to at least gain some inside knowledge on components because I don't want to totally ignore the subject (not to mention that I may run into a project someday that I'm forced to use them with).

Before I go any further, I have to state that I read this book before I learned a great deal about OOP, which looking back on it now was a big mistake. I cannot deny, however, that Antonio De Donatis knows what he is talking about, and looking back at it now and skimming through the pages, it makes a bit more sense, but I just don't have the time to re-read this book.
If you ever wanted to know every little detail about the components that are shipped with Flash, this is the book you want to pick up. You'll digest more information than you can handle on the subject and you'll be well on your way to developing extensible components not only from the ones shipped with Flash, but also making your own component frameworks and using those in your projects as well.

I gave this book 4 stars because I know deep down inside that this is a great book, it's just not for the faint of heart. The title says AdvancED ActionScript Components, and anyone who takes that title lightly will probably be upset with the book and seek a refund. However, if you know your way around components and you want to dig deeper, this is the one-stop-shop for everything you'll want to know about the subject.

As a java coder who has recently been writing Flash/Flex for rich database-driven UI products, this book has been a huge help. My understanding of the best way to use inheritance and the component architecture has improved a ton with this book. And the section on skinning has helped alot since the UI guys just give me pretty mockups, and then i need to actually make them look and work that way.

Well written and I really like the incremental approach he takes in teaching you the material with examples that you change bit by bit as you go.

Highly recommended.

Don't know how to build custom components?
How to edit/change/revive the current components? This book is for you. Want to learn how other people make money selling custom components.......well, this is a great "Start". Some OOP knowledge would be great, but not needed, as always....Friends of ED hits the mark!

The book presents the Actionscript component architecture. It is laid out well. I'm using it as a reference not a tutorial and the information seems accurate. There always seem to be some gotcha in the Flash Components, something that just IS and not something logical. So far this book has helped sort some of this out for me. I will report back if I remember. I would say if you want an advanced text, then buy this book.

I found this read to be downright dry. I was sick and tired of "VOGON" which is used throughout the entire book. It was like a manual that was translated from japanese to English.

Another excellent book, as have all other titles from FoED.