Essential ActionScript 2.0 (Paperback)

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Product Description

In September 2003, Macromedia released Flash MX 2004, and with it, ActionScript 2.0, a dramatically improved version of Flash's programming language. ActionScript 2.0 introduces a formal object-oriented programming syntax and methodology for creating Flash applications. From a developer's perspective, the new OOP-based techniques in ActionScript 2.0 make applications more natural to plan and conceptualize, more stable, more reusable across projects, easier to maintain, change, and expand upon, and much more. In short, they enhance the entire development process.

In Essential ActionScript 2.0, bestselling author Colin Moock--one of the most universally respected developers in the Flash community--covers everything you'll need to know about the new ActionScript language and its methodologies for producing movies, animation, and applications on the web. Moock guides readers through this important new territory with his trademark easy-to-understand style and expertise. Moock's goal throughout the book is not just to get you to use object-oriented programming in your daily Flash work: he wants you to reap the benefits of OOP; he wants you to understand ActionScript 2.0 completely. And without question, Moock is the author who can make this happen.

Essential ActionScript 2.0 begins with a tour of the language, including the fundamentals of object-oriented concepts, syntax, and usage. Those who are new to OOP will learn the basics and how to apply their understanding. Those who are familiar with OOP will leverage their prior experience to learn about Flash-based OOP. The next part of the book shows how to structure entire applications with ActionScript 2.0, teaching you best practices and techniques to build scalable, extensible, stable apps. Next, you'll explore a variety of approaches to various programming situations by applying object-oriented programming strategies, known as design patterns, to Flash.

Experienced Flash developers and programmers coming from other languages will enjoy the sheer depth of Moocks's coverage and expertise in Essential ActionScript 2.0. Novice programmers will appreciate the frequent, low-jargon explanations that are often glossed over by advanced programming books. As usual, Moock guarantees quality and accuracy by working closely with Macromedia Flash engineers, including Rebecca Sun, lead developer of ActionScript 2.0. Whether you're ready to make the move to ActionScript 2.0 now or simply assessing it for the future, you'll find everything you need to know within this book. Essential ActionScript 2.0 is the one book every ActionScript coder must own.

About the Author

Colin Moock is an independent web guru with a passion for networked creativity and expression. He has been researching, designing, and developing for the Web since 1995. His award-winning Flash work and his renowned support site for Flash developers (http://www.Moock.org) have made him a well-known personality in Flash developer community.

Product Details

• Paperback: 502 pages
• Publisher: O'Reilly Media (June 16, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0596006527
• ISBN-13: 978-0596006525
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 7 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.7 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (43 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #210,058 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

39 of 42 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars You know ActionScript has come of age when..., July 3, 2004

By	Raymond Brigleb (Portland, OR, United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

You know ActionScript has come of age when a book like this comes out. Colin Moock had already written arguably the bible on ActionScript 1.0, and though I was worried at the decision that this book was to be a supplement to ActionScript for Flash MX, rather than a sequel, I now couldn't agree more with the logic. The resultant book would have been too big for its binding!!!

Technically perfect, this book reminds me of why I fell in love with O'Reilly books in the first place. It reminds me of my first read of Larry Wall's Programming Perl book: concise, authoritative, and not without a bit of humor! And let me tell you, nowhere is humor more difficult than in a computer book, am I right?

Mr. Moock leads us down a path that teaches how to actually write an application in Flash. And you didn't think it was possible! Believe me, I had my doubts too, but the fact that the book applies several design patterns to Flash programming by the end speaks for itself. When you're ready to write mature, object-oriented applications in ActionScript 2.0, you're ready to pick this one up.

17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Theoretically intense, December 27, 2005

By	H. Fas "compusexual" (NJ USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Ok, you've read a beginner to intermediate book such as flash bible, unleashed etc. you've read one or more dedicated books on actionscript such as actionscript bible, cook book or flash hacks. You also practiced and built some projects using the knowledge acquainted from previous books. You can cope with the mentality of books on languages such as C++ or Java. You are ready and in need to get into the core of the theory of object oriented programming with actionscript. Only then this book is for you. Do not make a mistake by jumping into this book right away. This book is dry, theory intensive and not to the liking of the most graphically based mentality.

34 of 38 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Tight language overview at the right depth, July 28, 2004

By	Jack D. Herrington "engineer and author" (Silicon Valley, CA) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

At right around five hundred pages this book is just about the right length to cover the core of the Actionscript 2.0 language. It's split into three parts with the vast majority in the first part which covers the language fundamentals; the new typing structure, the new class structures, exceptions, interfaces and the rest of the language enhancements.

Part two, which is only about sixty pages, is where the book touches metal on the Flash player. So be warned, this book does not cover both the language and the Flash player context. It covers the language in depth.

Part three covers design patterns, which personally I think is optional in this context. Though the coverage is restricted to the most commonly used design patterns; observer, singleton, model-view-controller, and delegation. And these all have their uses in the Flash client coding context.

The majority of the book is solid, tight introduction to the entire language of Actionscript 2.0, not just the new features. I gave the book four stars instead of five because of the limited emphasis on reference materials, and the minor diversions into the Flash Player environment, which wasn't too bad, and the patterns stuff, which while it was well done, was strictly optional.