Should I use a MVC framework for an large RIA application

[Johnking08]

The book of "Adobe Flex 3 Training from the Source" does not talk about any MVC
frameworks in its
eCommerce example. I think Flex's events, functions, and mx components are
MVC already. Do they have to be in separate file to call them MVC? I do not
find that core Flex is harder to read and understand than using a MVC
framework. I think using the MVC framework would hurt the performance because
too many additional events are dispatched. Any comments?

[John Hall]

MVC is one design pattern that is pretty darn useful for a lot of applications,
IMHO. There are frameworks that more or less force you to think in MVC pattern
terms, like Cairngorm and PureMVC. But you certainly don't need to use a
framework to create an overall design pattern of model, view, controller.
However, it sure can make it easier if you're doing a large project. The book
you're talking about is a good example. They don't use a framework but they
have tried to use a form of MVC in the way that they implement all the
components to ensure things are loosely coupled.

As far as hurting performance, I'm no expert but there are so many thousands
of events occurring all the time in Flex that you might actually enhance
performance if you take more control by using custom events of your own
creation within a well designed framework.

I'm a fan of the Mate because I get it and it doesn't impose a strict
structure like Cairngorm. I don't have a whole lot of experience with OOP
(though I'm sure getting it thanks to this forum). Many others have their own
opinions and will surely recommend other frameworks. However, the bottom line
is that if you're doing a big project, I would think it would be a huge help to
at least have a conceptual framework approach in your mind, if not part of the
code.

Here's a video intro to Mate http://tinyurl.com/mateintro

[Johnking08]

[q][i]Originally posted by: [b][b]John Hall[/b][/b][/i]
...

As far as hurting performance, I'm no expert but there are so many thousands
of events occurring all the time in Flex that you might actually enhance
performance if you take more control by using custom events of your own
creation within a well designed framework.

I'm a fan of the Mate because I get it and it doesn't impose a strict
structure like Cairngorm. I don't have a whole lot of experience with OOP
(though I'm sure getting it thanks to this forum). Many others have their own
opinions and will surely recommend other frameworks. However, the bottom line
is that if you're doing a big project, I would think it would be a huge help to
at least have a conceptual framework approach in your mind, if not part of the
code.

Here's a video intro to Mate http://tinyurl.com/mateintro

[/q]

Here are some Flex web service demos that use core Flex, Cairngorm, and
PureMVC. You will find
that the performance of core Flex is better that of PureMVC, which is better
than Cairngorm's:

http://baoandassociates.com/#selectedTab=6

[John Hall]

Assuming their all well-designed, I guess decoupling components comes with some overhead. Always good to know. Thanks.