Programming Flash Communication Server (Paperback)

by Brian Lesser (Author), Giacomo Guilizzoni (Author), Robert Reinhardt (Author), Joey Lott (Author), Justin Watkins (Author)
Key Phrases: remote shared object, embedded video object, shared text area, Flash Remoting, Admin Service, Flash Communication Server (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
With the advent of Flash Communication Server MX (FCS), Macromedia believes that it's on the edge of a breakthrough in how people think about the Internet. FCS has been designed to provide web developers with the means to add polished interactive audio and video features to their sites, the sort of features that users have come to expect. Naturally, the process of efficiently integrating rich media into applications, web sites, and web content is a complex one, to say the least. That's where Programming Flash Communication Server factors in. As the foremost reference on FCS, it helps readers understand how FCS can facilitate:

• Video on demand
• Live webcasts
• Video chat and messaging
• Shared desktop conferences
• Live auctions
• Interactive whiteboard presentations
• Workflow collaboration
• Multi-user games

Programming Flash Communication Server not only explains how to use the pre-built FCS components to construct a simple application, it also explains the architecture so that developers can program custom components to make even more advanced applications. In addition, the book explains how to truly optimize performance, and talks about considerations for networked applications as well as the media issues pertaining to FCS. Programming Flash Communication Server gives developers a sorely needed leg up on this potentially intimidating technology. It lets users develop cool web applications ranging from direct dating experiences with real-time video, to pre-recorded corporate presentations, to news services with video and audio, and much more. At last, the ability to build web sites with rich interactive features--minus the complex downloads and installation hassles--is a reality. And now, with Programming Flash Communication Server from O'Reilly by your side, you can do more quickly and easily than you ever dreamed possible.

About the Author
Lesser works in Ryerson University's Computing and Communications Services, where he has the title of Assistant Director, Teaching and Technology Support.

Robert Reinhardt, Director of Multimedia Applications for The Content Project (www.contentproject.com), is internationally regarded as an expert on multimedia application development, particularly in Macromedia Flash. Robert is the lead author of the "Flash Bible" series and "Flash ActionScript Bible" (Wiley), as well as "Macromedia MX: Building Rich Internet Applications" (Macromedia Press). He has developed multimedia courses for educational facilities in Canada and the United States and has been a featured speaker at several Web conferences. Robert also provides multimedia consulting through his company, [theMAKERS].

Joey Lott has written several books on Flash and ActionScript. He lives in Los Angeles.

Guilizzoni is a software engineer working on Macromedia Breeze Live, possibly the most complex Rich Internet Aplication powered by the Flash Communication Server ever built.

JOEY LOTT is a consultant, ActionScript instructor, and expert Flash developer whose client list includes such giants as Warner Bros., Sony, and Disney. An author-ity on ColdFusion, Java, and ASP development, he has taught for Lynda.com, DigitalSunrise, DHIMA, and Hollywood's Movieola Education. He is also the coauthor of Macromedia Flash MX ActionScript Bible.

Watkins is the senior multimedia programmer for Career Education Corporation's Online Education Group. He leads a team of Flash programmers and developers to produce synchronous and asynchronous applications that thousands of online students use daily.

Product Details

• Paperback: 854 pages
• Publisher: O'Reilly Media, Inc.; illustrated edition edition (March 1, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0596005040
• ISBN-13: 978-0596005047
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 7.1 x 1.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.6 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #293,947 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Understand FCS, March 8, 2005

By	E. Schlenker "Flash Monster" - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

My company has been working with FCS for a while now, it really helps us communicate with customers and remote offices quite easily. So I picked up this book as soon as it came out, and it's done a great job of filling in the holes of my FlashCom knowledge. This is the book that I wish I had over a year ago when I was learning FCS for the very first time. Seriously. Instead I had some Macromedia books that read like owners manuals. Those were painful days.

Anyhoo, there's tons of example code in there. From wonderfully explicit "Hello World" type stuff, to keeping track of people in a virtual lobby. They really show you how to get at the power of FCS quite well.

Also, on a related note, one of the authors works on FCS for Macromedia, and his blog gives Flash Com info right from the horse's mouth: http://peldi.com/blog/

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A must-own for FlashCom developers, January 15, 2006

By	Yi Lei Wu (Guangzhou, China) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This is a very well-written book written by many famous FlashCom developers. It does not only give a comprehensive guideline on how to develope FlashCom applications, it also introduces best-practices and design patterns for developers. It also has many useful and real-world examples.

However, I believe this books is between beginner and intermediate level. You must know some ActionScript in order to get into what this book is talking about.

I highly recommend this book for FlashCom developers.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Indispendable, August 17, 2005

By	R. Tinfow "Application Developer" (Fairfield, NJ) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

For anyone interested in the exploring or exploiting the power of FCS, this book is indispensable. We have multiple programmers who have been working with FCS for more than two years. We really rocketed into new areas of development once we had the book in hand.

I can't imagine not having this essential reference and source of ideas.