Professional Adobe Flex 3 (Wrox Programmer to Programmer) (Paperback)

~ Joseph Balderson (Author), Peter Ent (Author), Jun Heider (Author), Todd Prekaski (Author), Tom Sugden (Author), Andrew Trice (Author), David Hassoun (Author), Joe Berkovitz (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

With Professional Adobe Flex 3, put your prior experience with Flash, ActionScript and XML-based languages to good use and learn how to use the Flex 3 platform to create Rich Internet Applications and AIR applications. Understand the potential of the Flex 3 platform through practical examples and hands-on advice on topics like desktop deployment, developing applications in MXML, creating custom flex components, charting, targeting AIR, and data interconnectivity.

From the Back Cover

In recent years, Flex has become the leader in rich Internet application (RIA) development technologies based on the Flash platform, and excitement continues to build around the potential of what Flex 3 has to offer. This comprehensive, in-depth resource provides you with the foundations of Flex 3 and shows how you can maximize your use of Flex 3 to create unique experiences on the Internet and the desktop.

The team of authors distinguishes the relationships between various aspects of Flex 3 and the Flash platform, while also offering extensive coverage of client-side Flex applications development and development best practices. They explain what Flex® Builder can do, how to develop simple Flex 3 applications, and ways to use the Flex 3 framework classes and components. You'll also take a look at more advanced topics such as data integration, architectural frameworks, and advanced tools.

Packed with detailed examples throughout, this authoritative guide will get you up and running with Flex 3 quickly, regardless of your level of Flex experience.

What you will learn from this book

• Techniques for skinning and styling Flex 3 components

• Ways to integrate Flash-built assets into Flex 3 applications

• Various components in the Flex 3 framework that manipulate or display data in the application

• The Cairngorm micro-architecture framework

• Best practices for building efficient, high-performance Flex 3 applications

• Components of the Flex 3 toolset, including the debugger, profiler, unit testing framework, logging framework, and automation framework

• Ways to migrate to Flex from other languages

Who this book is for

This book is for programmers and developers who are looking to leverage the Flex 3 platform to create RIAs. Experience with Flash, ActionScript, and an XML-based language is assumed.

Wrox Professional guides are planned and written by working programmers to meet the real-world needs of programmers, developers, and IT professionals. Focused and relevant, they address the issues technology professionals face every day. They provide examples, practical solutions, and expert education in new technologies, all designed to help programmers do a better job.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 1488 pages
• Publisher: Wrox (June 2, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0470223642
• ISBN-13: 978-0470223642
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 7.3 x 2.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.6 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #41,637 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Solid Flex 3 Training, July 19, 2009

By	Kevin Carlson (Everett, WA USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)    (VINE VOICE)

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As usual, Wrox sets the standard among self-study books, this time for Flex 3. A multitude of bite-sized exercises steps the reader through all the fundamentals of this exciting (and complex) RIA development tool.
I personally much prefer this to the "build-one-giant-project" approach used by Adobe's "Training from the Source" book, for example.

The one area I have found lacking so far has been regarding PHP database integration. The authors cover only RESTful web services with the Zend Framework. I would have preferred seeing some examples using the popular AMFPHP and WebORB technologies as well. (Installing the Zend Framework on a Linux server seems quite a bit more involved than these other approaches, perhaps especially so for shared server users, who may rarely if ever deal with Apache configuration issues.)

For more PHP data integration options, and an encyclopedic coverage of Flex, also check out the "Flex 3 Bible", and for some good overall tips and tricks, in addition I recommend "Flex 3 Cookbook".

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Must Have, July 13, 2009

By	shawnyale "There is only what we create" (North Carolina, USA) - See all my reviews

If you are a professional Flex developer or someone just starting out, and you are looking for one book, this is the one. This is one of those books that you can read (and reference) over and over and learn something new each time you pick it up.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Solid - Something for Every Skill Level, July 4, 2009

By	Alan "Alan" (New York, NY) - See all my reviews

Generally, something that does many things well, doesn't do any one thing great....

This book does many things great.

How did the publisher do this? Well, by making the book 1300 pages and having 8 authors. I think of this book not as 'one big book' but more as a few smaller ones put together.

Even though I am an experienced developer, I enjoyed the 'intro' to AS and Flex bits. This is accomplished by having an easy reading - cut to the chase attitude. There are plenty of 'advanced' topics as well, and those are easy and straightforward as well.

Honestly, I don't know what else to say about this book. It's comprehensive, easy to read and is exploding with insight. Just check out the Table Of Contents and you'll see what I mean - really, check it out. Perhaps you will be surprised as I was at the range of topics it hits: from memory management with Eclipse to integration with REST/Zend, even Blaze/LCDS and FlexUint....sheesh, what doesn't it cover.


Hmm I should probably mention a weakness it has.....ahhhh... the book is heavy...? Seriously tho, I haven't had the time to read the whole thing ( did I mention it's 1300 pages ). I'm sure it has shortcomings, but over the last few weeks nothing has stood out to me as yet.