Flex SDK or Adobe Flash?

Question

I looking to get into Flash game development (coming from XNA), but I'm not so sure I'm willing to dish out for the pricey Adobe Flash software. I've noticed there is the free "Flex" SDK.

What's the difference? Would I be able to develop a flash game using the free Flex SDK and submit it to a game portal in the same way I would if I developed a flash game using Adobe Flash?

Answer 1

1. Flex isn't really for games. It's more for RIA (Rich Internet Application), which isn't really the same thing.
2. You can program against the Flex SDK itself, and it's free, but you'll be 1/10 as productive than if you use Flash Builder. It does a whole lot for you. But, anyway, I think you should look into Flash development - not necessarily Flex.

Answer 2

If you use Windows, FlashDevelop may be an option. It is free and open source.

I believe you can use it in conjunction with the compiler that comes free with the Flex SDK from Adobe, also to compile ActionScript projects that doesn't include the Flex component framework, in other words, to develop stuff like games and such, in pure ActionScript, rather than Flex based RIA's.

Answer 3

There are 3 different things here, I think.

• The platform in itself : the flex sdk is a compiler that targets the flash player, and is perfect for game development, and you won't have any problem to submit a game developped this way.
• The IDE : If you are a programmer you'll be disappointed by Flash Professional, which is clearly aimed at graphists. That leaves you with 4 main options : Flash Builder, the IDE offered by Adobe, FDT, developped by PowerFlasher, FlashDevelop which is free and open-source, and IntelliJ which now has decent AS3 support. Or, you can of course develop in any text-editor and compile with the Flex SDK
• The framework : for game development, you probably don't want to use the flex framework, which is rather heavy and won' bring much in terms of functionnality.

Answer 4

I have used Flashdevelop earlier.. FD IDE great for AS3 developement.. Even they support HAXE which is one more open source programming language.. You can compile a haXe program to a .swf file. haXe can compile for Flash Players 6 to 10. http://haxe.org/doc/intro

I think you should try Haxe and u will love using Flash develop IDE as well.

Answer 5

Hi

You can:

1) use Flex SDK to compile pure AS3 code, which is convenient. It helps organizing your code and debugging, unlike Flash CS.

2) if you are making a game that involves a lot of drag'n'drop, GUI manipulations and so on, I would recommend the Flex Framework.

Answer 6

I have seen flex used well for games, altough it requires a bit more ground work in terms of sprite and cast organisation. Making games even in flash mx and 2004 was an absolute breaze, it really depends on the nature and complexity of the game, I find making games a little easier in the old flash 8 workflow, if we are talking cheezy pop cap games, but I have seen many casino's do perfectly decent work in flex on gaming engines.

As someone who also comes from a heavy MS dev background having gui dev tools is a plus once you have used RAD Tools you will never go back to linux style text editing and tools.

Flash Builder (flex 4) is a very very nice tool compable to visual studio in allot of ways.

Altough if I were to describe Flex Builder the workflow is identical to VB 6 its like VB for the web, except instead of vbscript you got a full oop language instead.

I would recommend using it (even in 60 day trial) I would recommend it.

I have seen some very good flex game engines even a port of quake 2, so depending on how sexy you want to get it can handle very well.