Explaining Adobe Flex

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+1 Q:

Explaining Adobe Flex

I have been using Adobe Flex for more than an year now and I really like it since I am not very good with Javascript.

But I just wonder if I were the person who thought of making Adobe Flex, how would I explain to my boss, as to what am I making? Wouldn't my boss simply say, "but there is Javascript out there for pretty much everything that you plan to do".

What would I say to him, if I need to get sanction for this Project which will involve so much of the "precious" developer time?

+2 A:

Well, I think you hit the right spot with precious developer time. FLEX will save you a lot of time if what you are building is a desktop like application, with a lot of forms and fields of all kinds.

Besides, you could argue that the only need you need to run FLEX APPS on your browser is a FLASH plugin. So pretty much everybody will be able to run your application without going through all the hazard of installing new plugins, frameworks, or anything. Just like JavaScript.

Pablo Santa Cruz 2009-04-01 11:56:06

The main difference between the 2 is that ActionScript has a lot more easy-to-use functionalities provided in its library as compared to JavaScript. An analogy could be .NET framework vs Windows API.

Jiang Qiu 2009-04-01 11:58:20

+1 A:

Flex has much rich UI experience, provides more functionalities, requires too less a coding, is compiled at server side and pushed to client in binary form (as SWF file), is client independent (so you don't have to make browser tweaks) and has pretty much tighter integrations with server side technologies. Integrated with LiveCycle (LCDS) you could have server push data to flex clients, rather than pull based mechanism. The list of advantages would go on and on...

Sandy 2009-04-01 12:05:55

thanks guys. answers help. But what I wanted ask was, "What if I was the person, who developed Adobe Flex Framework? How would I explain to my boss in Adobe, as to why is Flex required at all, when something like Javascript is already there. By developer time, I mean- time spent in developing flex"

dta 2009-04-01 15:21:24

To the boss: There exists nothing for UI layer which has compile time checks, browser independence, much more flexibility, very rich UI, consistent object model, tighter integration with backend, can work with push based technology, and all other advantages of what flex has. Why not we build it? ;)

Sandy 2009-04-02 04:41:18

+2 A:

I'd show him Tour de Flex so he can see how easy it is to build great UIs that work the same across browsers and operating systems.

James Ward 2009-04-01 12:38:19

I think your boss has a valid point, though. Just because you have the ability to do something in Flex doesn't mean that it's the right decision. From your boss' standpoint:

maintainabilty - if you leave or another person joins your team, it's easier to find a javascript developer than a flex developer
while flash has good adoption rate, it's not 100% like javascript
flex interfaces might confuse your users (if they're used to pure web apps)
proprietary vs. open standards

marketer 2009-04-01 17:40:16

ansaurus

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Explaining Adobe Flex

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