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Posts Tagged ‘Adobe’

No one is moving from Flex to HTML5

UPDATE:

You can’t make this stuff up. Someone sent me a couple of great graphics supporting my assertion. So please respond with anything that supports the contrary.

Update:

After getting a little splashback from some of my friends and colleagues, I thought that I’d add a little supporting evidence to my assertions.

“Moving” to HTML5 at this point is senseless gambling.

I’m not just blowing smoke up your pipe here either. Open your browsers to HTML5test.com and see for yourself. Come on… go ahead and do it!

The HTML5 support score on latest Windows 7 browsers that I have: IE 138; FF 330; Chrome 400. And then on the Mac OSX 10.6 that I have; Safari 319; FF 340; Chrome 400. That makes Chrome our top student with a whopping 80%. And I’m what many would call an “Advanced User.” Expect less from the general public.

Last I checked, 80% was a low “B-”. And with over 50% of the browser usage coming from browsers that have failing scores, you can see why I would not recommend HTML5 except in specific edge cases. And you thought IE6 was bad! (Browser stats from w3schools.com)

As a mobile or web developer, adding HTML5 to your list of skills is imperative. But with the severe lack of consistent support, moving an enterprise development project to HTML5 now is purely experimental or an exercise in ego.

If you think I’m wrong, please provide supporting evidence and I’ll gladly educate myself.

 

Original Post:

The fear, uncertainty and doubt (FUD) is being slung around by profiteers like folding chairs at a WWE event. The haters are still being haters. Nothing new there. But now I see JavaScript companies’ desperate pleas for Flex developers to start using their HTML5 software.
The context is all wrong here.  Very, very few Flex developers have shifted, moved, changed over, or whatever you want to call it… to HTML5 (or anything else JS-based.)

 

There is not a move to HTML5

I will go as far as to say that there is not a move to HTML5. The simple fact is that, developers are being developers. No matter the background, we are always trying to broadening our skill sets. This includes HTML5 since it started showing up a few years ago. For anyone to imply, or state outright, that there is some mass exodus from Flex is completely false!

The reality is still the same, Flash Player is still the most consistent cross-browser, cross-OS, and cross-device platform for software development.

It doesn’t matter if you are building business software or games, with one technology you are able to build for the desktop, Internet Explorer, Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Android, iPad, iPhone, Blackberry and Internet TVs.

What most haters fail to realize is how nice it is to go through your bug list and not find ANY bugs that are browser/platform specific. The only bugs I have, are actual bugs that I can fix. Not browser support related issues that you have no control over. For the first time in years I had to deal with browser specific issue when our On3 client embedded the application in a JSF, JSTL, ADF container. It reminded me of how good I have it. I don’t have to deal with this headache on a daily basis. In fact, it was one of the complete joys that drove me from building DHMTL development to Flex development.

So, the next time someone says, “Flex is dead” or “Everyone is moving to <insert tech here>,” take it with a grain of salt. In all likely hood, they have a hidden agenda.

 

Thank you Moai for this great graphic on the HTML5 Hype vs. Reality.

Adobe Flash Player licensing doesn’t apply to you!

Let me start with the punch line: Adobe’s announcement only applies to browser-based applications that use domain memory IN COMBINATION WITH hardware accelerated Stage3D in Flash Player

If you don’t know what these features are, this announcement does not effect you.

Read the official announcement

It’s funny to me how a simple statement gets construed when passed on to even one person. This phenomenon is called  Chinese Whispers. Unfortunately, in our fast paced world, we don’t actually pay attention enough to prevent this from happening nor the erroneous blow back regarding the Chinese Whispers. As many of you know, I work with several Adobe products. So I follow them closely and hopefully understand their direction better than most. So let’s clear this up.

Yesterday, Adobe announced that they are adding a licensing component to 2 specific features of Flash Player for developers.

This does not effect you if:

  • You create anything using Adobe AIR including the use of Stage3D and domain memory
  • You create anything for mobile devices using Adobe AIR including the use of Stage3D and domain memory
  • You create anything for the browser in Flash Player that use Stage3D
  • You create anything for the browser in Flash Player that use domain memory

This only effects you if:

  • You create browser-based applications that use domain memory in combination with hardware accelerated Stage3D in Flash Player AND the revenue for the application is $50,000 or higher

The licencing is very clear that it is for two (2) specific features used in combination that are most likely to be used by game developers. The features are domain memory and hardware accelerated Stage3D.

It is important to note that games and applications using either hardware-accelerated Stage3d OR domain memory individually do not require a license.

Game developers, before you get all WoW on Adobe, be sure to read the whole announcement and make sure that it does apply to you. And if it does apply to you… congratulations of creating a successful game!

License your Flex and AIR applications

If you need an easy and affordable way to secure your application against license sharing and ‘keygen cracks’, Zarqon just may be the answer you’ve been looking for.

A good friend of mine, Cliff Hall, is most known for the PureMVC framework which was inspired by his his lack of love for the Cairngorm framework. Well, Cliff apparently was irritated by the inability to create licensed products with Flex and AIR too, so he did something about it. Zarqon. He has created very useful tool for creating a licensed Flex and/or AIR applications. How you implement your app is totally up to you, Zarqon just helps you easily issue and validate licenses.

Are you a software skeptic, me too! No worries, there a free 30 day trial license that will allow you to fully evaluate the product and make a decision about whether it’s right for you.

It is now in “beta”, but if you begin implementation of a Zarqon-licensed product within the trial period that you plan to launch, let him know and you just may get a free license. Even if you do have to buy a license, it won’t set you back but $25.

I’m going to start my testing immediately and I’ll let you know my  thoughts later.

You can read all about it and sign up for the Beta at http://zarqon.net

Adobe MAX 2009 Online

Not going to Adobe MAX 2009? Not to worry…

Watch MAX keynotes, streamed live from Los Angeles-register now
(go to http://max.adobe.com/online/ )

On October 5th and 6th, Adobe MAX Online will feature the keynotes, streamed live, highlighting the newest and most exciting developments in the world of technology. Join 10 minutes early and participate in the backstage behind the scenes action.

View the top three sessions from each day on demand:
Check back each day by 8:00 PM PT, from October 5th to 7th, to see the top session of the day from each track: Design, Develop, and Envision. You’ll be able to view these sessions on demand on MAX Online and join the buzz by participating in the extended Twitter conversation.

View all of the session content on demand:
Check back on Sunday, October 11th, for all of the sessions available on demand with the exception of labs or BYOL (Bring Your Own Laptop) labs.

MAX Session Guide: http://assets.max.adobe.com/pdfs/MAX_2009_EventGuide.pdf

Adobe Flex/AS3 Code Quality Tool (PMD)

Adobe recently released (August 2009) the Flex implementation of PMD tool which is extensively used at J2EE shops for code quality management. FlexPMD is a tool that helps to improve code quality by auditing any AS3/Flex source directory and detecting common bad practices.

The Flex PMD tool is locate on the Adobe Open Source Projects site.

http://opensource.adobe.com/wiki/display/flexpmd/FlexPMD

It is available as an ANT task, command line and Mac OSX Automator.

And before you ask, no, there isn’t an Eclipse plugin… yet.

Adobe Flash and Flex Accessibility with Screen Readers

If you are dealing with 508 compliance and wondering if a Flex application is accessible, this is your post.

First, yes, screen readers can read Flex applications. And yes, its fairly easy. But, I’ll discuss how in a future post.

But, if you’d rather send people to your old HTML version of your site when using a read, there is good news. Flash Player has the ability to detect if a screen reader is running on the client machine, even if JavaScript is disabled and/or the Flex application is not compiled as an “accessible swf”. This is possible with the Accessibility class.

It is important to note that if the Flex application is compiled as an “accessible swf”, the screen reader will also be able to read content in the swf. If not, the screen reader only reads the words “flash movie start” whenever you interact with it. Talk about a usability buzz kill.

So, here is the code to see if a screen reader is currently running (not just installed) and then adds a LinkButton that calls a navigateToURL on click.

private function init():void
{
  // this is the only thing you need to do
  if( Accessibility.active )
  {
    var linkButton:LinkButton = new LinkButton();
    linkButton.label = "Click here to go to HTML site";
    linkButton.addEventListener( MouseEvent.CLICK, goToSite );
    this.addChildAt( linkButton, 0 );
  }
}

private function goToSite( eventObj:MouseEvent ):void
{
  navigateToURL( new URLRequest("<screen reader friendly site>") );
}

There are more properties available on the Accessibility class, but this is all you need to give accessibility an option.

Fast Track to ColdFusion 8 classes added

On3 has some excellent ColdFusion Classes scheduled during the next few months to celebrate the grand opening of our new headquarters and training center location on the 16th Street mall in Denver. The new address starting on August 1st will be: Denver Petroleum Building, 110 16th St, Ste 604, Denver, CO 80202. Please drop by and see us sometime!

The Fast Track to ColdFusion 8 class covers databases, forms, search-interfaces, templates, and getting information in and out of ColdFusion. The class teaches an experienced object oriented or scripting language veteran the tips and tricks to getting started with ColdFusion 8.

The 2009 dates are: Jul 27 – 29, Aug 17 – 19, Sep 9 – 11,Sep 28 – 30, Oct 19 – 21, Nov 2 – 4, Nov 23 – 25, Dec 28 – 30.

Please check it out and then enroll today!

Security Soapbox – Decompile Flash/Flex

Having built/architected/developed/consulted many Adobe Flex applications and being one of the first certified Flex instructors in the world, I’ve seen a lot of Flex applications. Some good, some bad.

But no matter how many applications or who I’m talking to, I always stress the importance of securing proprietary information. By securing, I mean don’t put it in your application. Unless your are encrypting your application and decrypting at runtime, you are subject to a decompiler exposing your secrets.

There are Flash decompilers that will take any SWF and give you the source:
Trillix Flash Decompiler is one of the best commercial tools I’ve found.
I’ve even seen guys decompile, make changes and then recompile a Flex app. This is scary! Say goodbye to licensing software in Flash.

But HP just released a tool that has caught my eye as well. (Note: I have not tested this tool) It claims to decompile and test for security weaknesses. It’s called SWFScan and it’s a free Windows based tool from HP.

If security in a Flex or Flash based application is a concern for you, you must look at these tools. If security is not your concern, look anyway.

CFUnited has lots of Flex Training Sessions

One of my CFUnited sessions:
AIR: Building Desktop Applications with Flex 3 – http://cfunited.com/2009/topics/235

Here is a little Q&A about CFUnited and me.

1. Have you spoken at CFUnited in the past?  What would you tell someone who hasn’t been to CFUnited before?

Yes, I have spoken at CFUnited in the past. And I’d have to equate it to seeing your favorite band in a small venue. Same great talent, but not nearly as crowded allowing you to easily network with so many very talented people.

2. Why should people attend your session(s)?

If you have been wondering about, thinking about or just plain curious about Adobe AIR, my session will clear the air… uh, no pun intended.

3. Do you have any projects in the works that you will be revealing at CFUnited?

I have been doing quite a bit in the mobile space, actually more of an add-on to some of our AIR development projects. So look forward  to ways to take your application to iPhone, Symbian and Android.

4. Besides your topic, what other sessions are you looking forward to?

I know I’ll get in trouble for this, but its not the sessions to which I really look forward. Its the one on one conversations that I’ll have with people from all over that help me solve problems and come up with new ideas. That is what I’m looking forward to. Oh and the sessions help me identify who I’d like to meet.

5. Where can people find you at CFUnited?  (At the bar, networking, working, in your room, etc.)

Networking.

6. What’s the latest news with you? Has anything changed since last CFUnited?

Since On3 is all about helping organizations grow their own Flex developers, we have opened a new training center in Denver, CO.

7. When you are not working what do you like to do in your free time?

Mountain Bike in the Spring thru Fall, Ski during the Winter