Comments on: Flex Builder to Flash Builder? Scandalous!

By: Josh Tynjala

Josh Tynjala — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 18:10:10 +0000

Stephan, Flex is a framework built for Flash runtimes to make building certain types of project easier. Yes, with a little persistence, someone could built the exact same thing using straight ActionScript (with or without another framework) or with the Flex framework.

For some more organic animation, nothing is stopping a Flex developer from opening up Flash Pro (or asking their resident designer to do it) and putting together some cool frame-based stuff on timeline to embed into a Flex app to give it a little personality. Not everything is possible with scripted animation, and a good team building Flex apps will know when to use other Flash tools to create assets that will improve the experience provided by a Flex application.

By: Stephan

Stephan — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 15:05:05 +0000

Hi Josh,

Great article. Coming from an ad background I never really understood the difference between FLEX and FLASH.

Both use the same platform and have similar coding methods, they just have a different way of approaching the same thing?

With Flex it’s easier to build RIA’s and with flash you can get more creative animation wise, etc, I get that. But in the end you can build the exact same application with Flash and Flex?

By: CaptainCode

CaptainCode — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 22:24:04 +0000

What it comes down to, is people don’t understand right now (which is a perfect demonstration as to why the name change) the difference between FLEX and FLEX BUILDER. Flex isn’t changing. It’s a framework, used to build rias, not a ria or piece of software that is useable on its own. It’s the IDE, or Flex Builder, that is changing. I think if people actually stopped and took a second to think about that difference, there wouldn’t be the chronic knee-jerk reaction of a freak-out. Josh is totally right, this is a good move on the part of adobe. Better now than later when more people would be even more confused than those who are freaking out about this as it is.

By: Josh Tynjala

Josh Tynjala — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 16:28:50 +0000

Robert, why do you have to spend time or money to change advertising and stuff? You’ll still be building Flex applications. It’s the name of the development environment that changed, not the framework. A Flex application can still be called a Flex application for years to come.

By: Robert Cesaric

Robert Cesaric — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 14:07:21 +0000

Good post! It’s interesting to see the debates. Here’s my two cents, I’m probably one of those Flex developers that are pushing against the name change. Sorry guys. Why?…money. Hey, I get it. In the end it’s all swf. Frankly, as a developer, I don’t care what the name is but as a business owner the term “Flex” gave a lot of us a distinguishable new brand and sales angle for converting leads. Everyone knows what Flash is but Flex grabs a customer’s attention. It’s also a fresh way to try to convert the stubborn naysayers of the old Flash apps. I don’t want to lose that and I’m not sure why Adobe would either. In addition, I personally have thousands invested in media kits and advertising to reflect the Flex brand. Not something I particularly want to spend more time or money in changing either.

By: Singe Dude

Singe Dude — Tue, 19 May 2009 15:28:12 +0000

When in the next few weeks they rename Flex to FlashX and AIR to Airsh, it’ll all make sense.

By: Rob Toole

Rob Toole — Mon, 18 May 2009 19:46:17 +0000

Forget all the jargon, if it makes a swf it needs Flash player. Both Flash and Flex makes swf’s. I used to hate it when PM’s would ask me if I was going to use Flash or Flex. What does it matter to them? In the end it’s going to be a swf file living in an html page. Focus on the biz requirements, I’ll handle the tech.

Maybe they could call it Dreamweaver Builder.

By: Craig

Craig — Mon, 18 May 2009 18:45:17 +0000

It is interesting because I consider myself a Flash developer, however if a certain project comes along and they want to use Flex then to them I am a Flex developer. Flex is just a framework. In the end it is all AS3. Now as a brand I think this is a mistake to change, b/c many clients think there is a fundamental different between the two. In this case the developer (me) can say I know both Flex and Flash and to them it will seem impressive. Kind of like a PHP developer saying he knows both PHP and Zend.

At least the recruiters calling won’t get as mixed up. Funniest quote: “We need a Flex developer that can also understand AS3 and Eclipse FDT language.” – sigh

By: sergy

sergy — Mon, 18 May 2009 14:42:31 +0000

its also particularly bad timing when you have new entrants in the market such as SilverLight and JavaFx. Don’t you kinda find it funny that the flex sdk will not be renamed? Explain that one.

By: sergy

sergy — Mon, 18 May 2009 14:21:45 +0000

imagine the very thing that I point out is in the FAQ. I guess I am not the only one who is thinking like this. It’s of obvious concern to Abobe.

What about clients who cringe when they hear the word Flash?
Here you have two options. You can continue to simply use the term Flex or you can educate them that Flash is now a mature development platform and not simply annoying skip intro movies. We as a community need to spread the word about what Flash really is now. Also you really have to have your head under a rock to not realize that Flex applications run in the Flash player.