Hi folks, About 2 years ago I began learning Flash 8, then Flash CS3 using AS2 and FlashMediaServer 2. All this was for a grad school project. I designed and built a nifty tool to record and keep track of singing for my 500+ students at the school where I teach. The tool works fine but for some bugs that I will resolve one by one.
My questions follow. 1. When I redesign the tool is it a given that I should use AS3 and the most recent version of Flash Media Server which I think is Flash Media Interactive Server 3.5? 2. Should I think of Flash as a tool with which I would build things that would go into a FLEX shell? 3. Should I learn FLEX? Are FLEX and FLASH supposed to be thought of together?
I took one beginner FLEX class at the MN SWF camp at the downtown library this year and enjoyed it, but I have a hard time understanding how FLEX is really different from FLASH. On top of this, If I get this right, FLEX is no longer called FLEX, but FLASH BUILDER. Is this right?
What it all boils down to is this: I really enjoyed the challenge of learning FLASH and the personal reward for actually using a tool I built is enormous. I wish to continue upon this path and remain up to date as well. I want to design and build more things.I am seeking the best way for me to do this.
1) yes, use AS3.
2) Depends, are you a developer or a designer or something in between?
3) Depends on your project. I only use Flex for maybe 20% of the
projects I work on, but I almost always use Flex Builder.
Flex is still Flex, just the tool is changing it's name. Flex is the
Framework, not the tool.
> Hi folks,
> About 2 years ago I began learning Flash 8, then Flash CS3 using > AS2 and FlashMediaServer 2.
> All this was for a grad school project. I designed and built a nifty
> tool to record and keep track of singing for my 500+ students at the
> school where I teach.
> The tool works fine but for some bugs that I will resolve one by one.
> My questions follow.
> 1. When I redesign the tool is it a given that I should use AS3 and
> the most recent version of Flash Media Server which I think is Flash
> Media Interactive Server 3.5?
> 2. Should I think of Flash as a tool with which I would build things
> that would go into a FLEX shell?
> 3. Should I learn FLEX? Are FLEX and FLASH supposed to be thought of
> together?
> I took one beginner FLEX class at the MN SWF camp at the downtown
> library this year and enjoyed it, but I have a hard time
> understanding how FLEX is really different from FLASH. On top of
> this, If I get this right, FLEX is no longer called FLEX, but FLASH
> BUILDER. Is this right?
> What it all boils down to is this:
> I really enjoyed the challenge of learning FLASH and the personal
> reward for actually using a tool I built is enormous. I wish to
> continue upon this path and remain up to date as well. I want to
> design and build more things.I am seeking the best way for me to do
> this.
I typically use Flex for about 80% of my projects. Flex not really different from Flash; it is Flash. Flex is just a library/framework written on top of Flash. Think of it as "standing on the shoulders of giants." However, depending on your application, Flex might be overkill.
From: mnswf@googlegroups.com [mailto:mnswf@googlegroups.com] On Behalf Of Paul Decoursey
Sent: Tuesday, June 30, 2009 3:58 PM
To: mnswf@googlegroups.com
Subject: [mnswf] Re: beginning again
1) yes, use AS3.
2) Depends, are you a developer or a designer or something in between?
3) Depends on your project. I only use Flex for maybe 20% of the projects I work on, but I almost always use Flex Builder.
Flex is still Flex, just the tool is changing it's name. Flex is the Framework, not the tool.
Paul
On Jun 30, 2009, at 3:45 PM, Pete Hofmann wrote:
Hi folks,
About 2 years ago I began learning Flash 8, then Flash CS3 using AS2 and FlashMediaServer 2.
All this was for a grad school project. I designed and built a nifty tool to record and keep track of singing for my 500+ students at the school where I teach.
The tool works fine but for some bugs that I will resolve one by one.
My questions follow.
1. When I redesign the tool is it a given that I should use AS3 and the most recent version of Flash Media Server which I think is Flash Media Interactive Server 3.5?
2. Should I think of Flash as a tool with which I would build things that would go into a FLEX shell?
3. Should I learn FLEX? Are FLEX and FLASH supposed to be thought of together?
I took one beginner FLEX class at the MN SWF camp at the downtown library this year and enjoyed it, but I have a hard time understanding how FLEX is really different from FLASH. On top of this, If I get this right, FLEX is no longer called FLEX, but FLASH BUILDER. Is this right?
What it all boils down to is this:
I really enjoyed the challenge of learning FLASH and the personal reward for actually using a tool I built is enormous. I wish to continue upon this path and remain up to date as well. I want to design and build more things.I am seeking the best way for me to do this.
As a fairly new Flex user, I have found myself doing more in Flex than in Flash (which I was much more proficient in during the AS2 days). When I migrated over to AS3 and stated tooling around in Flex the transition was much easier. The two programs serve different purposes, as far as I have seen. I mostly use Flex when I have to do extensive coding and am using a lot of data connections. I will use Flash when I have animation or a simple project. I have not heard of Flex being called Flash builder, but it is actually Flex Builder (as far as I know).
My advice...learn both programs and you cannot go wrong.
Date: Tue, 30 Jun 2009 15:45:31 -0500
Subject: [mnswf] beginning again
From: p...@petehofmann.com
To: mnswf@googlegroups.com
Hi folks,
About 2 years ago I began learning Flash 8, then Flash CS3 using AS2 and FlashMediaServer 2.
All this was for a grad school project. I designed and built a nifty tool to record and keep track of singing for my 500+ students at the school where I teach.
The tool works fine but for some bugs that I will resolve one by one.
My questions follow.
1. When I redesign the tool is it a given that I should use AS3 and the most recent version of Flash Media Server which I think is Flash Media Interactive Server 3.5?
2. Should I think of Flash as a tool with which I would build things that would go into a FLEX shell?
3. Should I learn FLEX? Are FLEX and FLASH supposed to be thought of together?
I took one beginner FLEX class at the MN SWF camp at the downtown library this year and enjoyed it, but I have a hard time understanding how FLEX is really different from FLASH. On top of this, If I get this right, FLEX is no longer called FLEX, but FLASH BUILDER. Is this right?
What it all boils down to is this:
I really enjoyed the challenge of learning FLASH and the personal reward for actually using a tool I built is enormous. I wish to continue upon this path and remain up to date as well. I want to design and build more things.I am seeking the best way for me to do this.
From: b_cederg...@hotmail.com
To: mnswf@googlegroups.com
Subject: [mnswf] Re: beginning again
Date: Tue, 30 Jun 2009 16:36:13 -0500
Pete-
As a fairly new Flex user, I have found myself doing more in Flex than in Flash (which I was much more proficient in during the AS2 days). When I migrated over to AS3 and stated tooling around in Flex the transition was much easier. The two programs serve different purposes, as far as I have seen. I mostly use Flex when I have to do extensive coding and am using a lot of data connections. I will use Flash when I have animation or a simple project. I have not heard of Flex being called Flash builder, but it is actually Flex Builder (as far as I know).
My advice...learn both programs and you cannot go wrong.
Date: Tue, 30 Jun 2009 15:45:31 -0500
Subject: [mnswf] beginning again
From: p...@petehofmann.com
To: mnswf@googlegroups.com
Hi folks,
About 2 years ago I began learning Flash 8, then Flash CS3 using AS2 and FlashMediaServer 2.
All this was for a grad school project. I designed and built a nifty tool to record and keep track of singing for my 500+ students at the school where I teach.
The tool works fine but for some bugs that I will resolve one by one.
My questions follow.
1. When I redesign the tool is it a given that I should use AS3 and the most recent version of Flash Media Server which I think is Flash Media Interactive Server 3.5?
2. Should I think of Flash as a tool with which I would build things that would go into a FLEX shell?
3. Should I learn FLEX? Are FLEX and FLASH supposed to be thought of together?
I took one beginner FLEX class at the MN SWF camp at the downtown library this year and enjoyed it, but I have a hard time understanding how FLEX is really different from FLASH. On top of this, If I get this right, FLEX is no longer called FLEX, but FLASH BUILDER. Is this right?
What it all boils down to is this:
I really enjoyed the challenge of learning FLASH and the personal reward for actually using a tool I built is enormous. I wish to continue upon this path and remain up to date as well. I want to design and build more things.I am seeking the best way for me to do this.
The next version of Flex Builder (4) will be called Flash Builder. Flex will continue to be the name of the open-source framework.
DP
From: mnswf@googlegroups.com [mailto:mnswf@googlegroups.com] On Behalf Of Brad Cedergren
Sent: Tuesday, June 30, 2009 4:36 PM
To: mnswf@googlegroups.com
Subject: [mnswf] Re: beginning again
Pete-
As a fairly new Flex user, I have found myself doing more in Flex than in Flash (which I was much more proficient in during the AS2 days). When I migrated over to AS3 and stated tooling around in Flex the transition was much easier. The two programs serve different purposes, as far as I have seen. I mostly use Flex when I have to do extensive coding and am using a lot of data connections. I will use Flash when I have animation or a simple project. I have not heard of Flex being called Flash builder, but it is actually Flex Builder (as far as I know).
My advice...learn both programs and you cannot go wrong.
________________________________
Date: Tue, 30 Jun 2009 15:45:31 -0500
Subject: [mnswf] beginning again
From: p...@petehofmann.com
To: mnswf@googlegroups.com
Hi folks,
About 2 years ago I began learning Flash 8, then Flash CS3 using AS2 and FlashMediaServer 2.
All this was for a grad school project. I designed and built a nifty tool to record and keep track of singing for my 500+ students at the school where I teach.
The tool works fine but for some bugs that I will resolve one by one.
My questions follow.
1. When I redesign the tool is it a given that I should use AS3 and the most recent version of Flash Media Server which I think is Flash Media Interactive Server 3.5?
2. Should I think of Flash as a tool with which I would build things that would go into a FLEX shell?
3. Should I learn FLEX? Are FLEX and FLASH supposed to be thought of together?
I took one beginner FLEX class at the MN SWF camp at the downtown library this year and enjoyed it, but I have a hard time understanding how FLEX is really different from FLASH. On top of this, If I get this right, FLEX is no longer called FLEX, but FLASH BUILDER. Is this right?
What it all boils down to is this:
I really enjoyed the challenge of learning FLASH and the personal reward for actually using a tool I built is enormous. I wish to continue upon this path and remain up to date as well. I want to design and build more things.I am seeking the best way for me to do this.
Exactly, Flex can carry some overhead, but it can be a huge time
saver. I'd like to use it more but a lot of my projects lately have
been smaller not so data-centric :( To tell you the truth even, about
4 years ago I had almost given up on Flash and was totally a Java
developer, with some AJAX/HTML front end work as well. But then I
found Flex 2. Flex brought my passion for interactive development
back and possibly saved my career.
Paul
On Jun 30, 2009, at 4:17 PM, Danny Patterson wrote:
> I typically use Flex for about 80% of my projects. Flex not really
> different from Flash; it is Flash. Flex is just a library/framework
> written on top of Flash. Think of it as “standing on the shoulders
> of giants.” However, depending on your application, Flex might be
> overkill.
> From: mnswf@googlegroups.com [mailto:mnswf@googlegroups.com] On
> Behalf Of Paul Decoursey
> Sent: Tuesday, June 30, 2009 3:58 PM
> To: mnswf@googlegroups.com
> Subject: [mnswf] Re: beginning again
> 1) yes, use AS3.
> 2) Depends, are you a developer or a designer or something in between?
> 3) Depends on your project. I only use Flex for maybe 20% of the
> projects I work on, but I almost always use Flex Builder.
> Flex is still Flex, just the tool is changing it's name. Flex is
> the Framework, not the tool.
> Paul
> On Jun 30, 2009, at 3:45 PM, Pete Hofmann wrote:
> Hi folks,
> About 2 years ago I began learning Flash 8, then Flash CS3 using > AS2 and FlashMediaServer 2.
> All this was for a grad school project. I designed and built a nifty
> tool to record and keep track of singing for my 500+ students at the
> school where I teach.
> The tool works fine but for some bugs that I will resolve one by one.
> My questions follow.
> 1. When I redesign the tool is it a given that I should use AS3 and
> the most recent version of Flash Media Server which I think is Flash
> Media Interactive Server 3.5?
> 2. Should I think of Flash as a tool with which I would build things
> that would go into a FLEX shell?
> 3. Should I learn FLEX? Are FLEX and FLASH supposed to be thought of
> together?
> I took one beginner FLEX class at the MN SWF camp at the downtown
> library this year and enjoyed it, but I have a hard time
> understanding how FLEX is really different from FLASH. On top of
> this, If I get this right, FLEX is no longer called FLEX, but FLASH
> BUILDER. Is this right?
> What it all boils down to is this:
> I really enjoyed the challenge of learning FLASH and the personal
> reward for actually using a tool I built is enormous. I wish to
> continue upon this path and remain up to date as well. I want to
> design and build more things.I am seeking the best way for me to do
> this.
Good People of mnswf,
Thanks so much for your responses.
I describe myself as an educator that is disappointed in the commercially
available media tools that are designed for use in the elementary classroom
and specifically in the music room. My needs were not being met, so through
my Learning Technologies program at the U of M with Aaron Doering and
Charlie Miller, I took the leap and just built what I needed. I am very glad
I did it. I call it SongCatcher.
An unintended consequence is that I am now inspired to imagine other
solutions to other educationally related and even non-educational problems.
In short, I am kind of hooked.
As a musician, I have written hundreds of pieces of music and I was struck
by the incredible similarity in the creative process of design and
development. There was plenty new stuff for me to learn, but at the core it
all seemed familiar.
I cannot bear the thought of letting my work die for lack of updates and
redesigns. Likewise I cannot bear the thought of simply staying in an AS2
and FMS2 mindset.I know that it will take a sustained effort. Joining mnswf
was a step, going to the camp was another. I am bumping along, trying to
make it count, trying to grow.
So, no,I am not a developer like most of you guys. Not yet at least. But I
am curious, I believe I can learn and grow.
Rock on,
Pete
So you can get an idea of my music,this link is to my musical page. I did
not build this, but I am using it. Its like mySpace or Facebook, but they
cater to the needs of musicians.
http://www.reverbnation.com/petehofmann
On Tue, Jun 30, 2009 at 3:58 PM, Paul Decoursey <p...@decoursey.net> wrote:
> 1) yes, use AS3.
> 2) Depends, are you a developer or a designer or something in between?
> 3) Depends on your project. I only use Flex for maybe 20% of the projects
> I work on, but I almost always use Flex Builder.
> Flex is still Flex, just the tool is changing it's name. Flex is the
> Framework, not the tool.
> Paul
> On Jun 30, 2009, at 3:45 PM, Pete Hofmann wrote:
> Hi folks,
> About 2 years ago I began learning Flash 8, then Flash CS3 using AS2 and
> FlashMediaServer 2.
> All this was for a grad school project. I designed and built a nifty tool
> to record and keep track of singing for my 500+ students at the school where
> I teach.
> The tool works fine but for some bugs that I will resolve one by one.
> My questions follow.
> 1. When I redesign the tool is it a given that I should use AS3 and the
> most recent version of Flash Media Server which I think is Flash Media
> Interactive Server 3.5?
> 2. Should I think of Flash as a tool with which I would build things that
> would go into a FLEX shell?
> 3. Should I learn FLEX? Are FLEX and FLASH supposed to be thought of
> together?
> I took one beginner FLEX class at the MN SWF camp at the downtown library
> this year and enjoyed it, but I have a hard time understanding how FLEX is
> really different from FLASH. On top of this, If I get this right, FLEX is no
> longer called FLEX, but FLASH BUILDER. Is this right?
> What it all boils down to is this:
> I really enjoyed the challenge of learning FLASH and the personal reward
> for actually using a tool I built is enormous. I wish to continue upon this
> path and remain up to date as well. I want to design and build more things.I
> am seeking the best way for me to do this.
> Good People of mnswf,
> Thanks so much for your responses.
> I describe myself as an educator that is disappointed in the
> commercially available media tools that are designed for use in the
> elementary classroom and specifically in the music room. My needs
> were not being met, so through my Learning Technologies program at
> the U of M with Aaron Doering and Charlie Miller, I took the leap
> and just built what I needed. I am very glad I did it. I call it
> SongCatcher.
> An unintended consequence is that I am now inspired to imagine other
> solutions to other educationally related and even non-educational
> problems. In short, I am kind of hooked.
> As a musician, I have written hundreds of pieces of music and I was
> struck by the incredible similarity in the creative process of
> design and development. There was plenty new stuff for me to learn,
> but at the core it all seemed familiar.
> I cannot bear the thought of letting my work die for lack of updates
> and redesigns. Likewise I cannot bear the thought of simply staying
> in an AS2 and FMS2 mindset.I know that it will take a sustained
> effort. Joining mnswf was a step, going to the camp was another. I
> am bumping along, trying to make it count, trying to grow.
> So, no,I am not a developer like most of you guys. Not yet at least.
> But I am curious, I believe I can learn and grow.
> Rock on,
> Pete
> So you can get an idea of my music,this link is to my musical page.
> I did not build this, but I am using it. Its like mySpace or
> Facebook, but they cater to the needs of musicians.
> http://www.reverbnation.com/petehofmann
> On Tue, Jun 30, 2009 at 3:58 PM, Paul Decoursey <p...@decoursey.net>
> wrote:
> 1) yes, use AS3.
> 2) Depends, are you a developer or a designer or something in between?
> 3) Depends on your project. I only use Flex for maybe 20% of the
> projects I work on, but I almost always use Flex Builder.
> Flex is still Flex, just the tool is changing it's name. Flex is
> the Framework, not the tool.
> Paul
> On Jun 30, 2009, at 3:45 PM, Pete Hofmann wrote:
>> Hi folks,
>> About 2 years ago I began learning Flash 8, then Flash CS3 using >> AS2 and FlashMediaServer 2.
>> All this was for a grad school project. I designed and built a
>> nifty tool to record and keep track of singing for my 500+ students
>> at the school where I teach.
>> The tool works fine but for some bugs that I will resolve one by one.
>> My questions follow.
>> 1. When I redesign the tool is it a given that I should use AS3 and
>> the most recent version of Flash Media Server which I think is
>> Flash Media Interactive Server 3.5?
>> 2. Should I think of Flash as a tool with which I would build
>> things that would go into a FLEX shell?
>> 3. Should I learn FLEX? Are FLEX and FLASH supposed to be thought
>> of together?
>> I took one beginner FLEX class at the MN SWF camp at the downtown
>> library this year and enjoyed it, but I have a hard time
>> understanding how FLEX is really different from FLASH. On top of
>> this, If I get this right, FLEX is no longer called FLEX, but FLASH
>> BUILDER. Is this right?
>> What it all boils down to is this:
>> I really enjoyed the challenge of learning FLASH and the personal
>> reward for actually using a tool I built is enormous. I wish to
>> continue upon this path and remain up to date as well. I want to
>> design and build more things.I am seeking the best way for me to do
>> this.
Nice music! I really dug 'She balances' - a long time ago (in a former life) I used to play professionally - jazz guitar, bass - did some arrangements for singers. A lot of developers/coders I know are/were also musicians. You have a real gift - and a great vision about where you want to go with it. -Alan
________________________________
From: Pete Hofmann <p...@petehofmann.com>
To: mnswf@googlegroups.com
Sent: Wednesday, July 1, 2009 10:52:33 AM
Subject: [mnswf] Re: beginning again
Good People of mnswf,
Thanks so much for your responses. I describe myself as an educator that is disappointed in the commercially available media tools that are designed for use in the elementary classroom and specifically in the music room. My needs were not being met, so through my Learning Technologies program at the U of M with Aaron Doering and Charlie Miller, I took the leap and just built what I needed. I am very glad I did it. I call it SongCatcher.
An unintended consequence is that I am now inspired to imagine other solutions to other educationally related and even non-educational problems. In short, I am kind of hooked.
As a musician, I have written hundreds of pieces of music and I was struck by the incredible similarity in the creative process of design and development. There was plenty new stuff for me to learn, but at the core it all seemed familiar.
I cannot bear the thought of letting my work die for lack of updates and redesigns. Likewise I cannot bear the thought of simply staying in an AS2 and FMS2 mindset.I know that it will take a sustained effort. Joining mnswf was a step, going to the camp was another. I am bumping along, trying to make it count, trying to grow.
So, no,I am not a developer like most of you guys. Not yet at least. But I am curious, I believe I can learn and grow.
Rock on, Pete
So you can get an idea of my music,this link is to my musical page. I did not build this, but I am using it. Its like mySpace or Facebook, but they cater to the needs of musicians.
http://www.reverbnation.com/petehofmann
On Tue, Jun 30, 2009 at 3:58 PM, Paul Decoursey <p...@decoursey.net> wrote:
>2) Depends, are you a developer or a designer or something in between?
>3) Depends on your project. I only use Flex for maybe 20% of the projects I work on, but I almost always use Flex Builder.
>Flex is still Flex, just the tool is changing it's name. Flex is the Framework, not the tool.
>Paul
>On Jun 30, 2009, at 3:45 PM, Pete Hofmann wrote:
>Hi folks,
>>About 2 years ago I began learning Flash 8, then Flash CS3 using AS2 and FlashMediaServer 2.
>>>>All this was for a grad school project. I designed and built a nifty tool to record and keep track of singing for my 500+ students at the school where I teach.
>>The tool works fine but for some bugs that I will resolve one by one.
>>My questions follow.
>>1. When I redesign the tool is it a given that I should use AS3 and the most recent version of Flash Media Server which I think is Flash Media Interactive Server 3.5?
>>2. Should I think of Flash as a tool with which I would build things that would go into a FLEX shell?
>>>>3. Should I learn FLEX? Are FLEX and FLASH supposed to be thought of together?
>>I took one beginner FLEX class at the MN SWF camp at the downtown library this year and enjoyed it, but I have a hard time understanding how FLEX is really different from FLASH. On top of this, If I get this right, FLEX is no longer called FLEX, but FLASH BUILDER. Is this right?
>>What it all boils down to is this:
>>I really enjoyed the challenge of learning FLASH and the personal reward for actually using a tool I built is enormous. I wish to continue upon this path and remain up to date as well. I want to design and build more things.I am seeking the best way for me to do this.
|
