ActionScript 3.0 is a huge upgrade to Flash's programming language. The enhancements to ActionScript's performance, feature set, ease of use, cleanliness, and sophistication are considerable. Essential ActionScript 3.0 focuses on the core language and object-oriented programming, along with the Flash Player API. Essential ActionScript has become the #1 resource for the Flash and ActionScript development community, and the reason is the author, Colin Moock. Many people even refer to it simply as "The Colin Moock book."

And for good reason: No one is better at turning ActionScript inside out, learning its nuances and capabilities, and then explaining everything in such an accessible way. Colin Moock is not just a talented programmer and technologist; he's also a gifted teacher.

Essential ActionScript 3.0 is a radically overhauled update to Essential ActionScript 2.0. True to its roots, the book once again focuses on the core language and object-oriented programming, but also adds a deep look at the centerpiece of Flash Player's new API: display programming. Enjoy hundreds of brand new pages covering exciting new language features, such as the DOM-based event architecture, E4X, and namespaces--all brimming with real-world sample code.

The ActionScript 3.0 revolution is here, and Essential ActionScript 3.0's steady hand is waiting to guide you through it.

Adobe Developer Library is a co-publishing partnership between O'Reilly Media and Adobe Systems, Inc. and is designed to produce the number one information resources for developers who use Adobe technologies. Created in 2006, the Adobe Developer Library is the official source for comprehensive learning solutions to help developers create expressive and interactive web applications that can reach virtually anyone on any platform. With top-notch books and innovative online resources covering the latest in rich Internet application development, the Adobe Developer Library offers expert training and in-depth resources, straight from the source.

Amazon.com® Reader Reviews (Ranked by Helpfulness)

Average Amazon.com® Rating:  Based on 80 Ratings

Use "Programming ActionScript 3.0" instead - 2009-11-23
Reviewer Rating:
As a fluent developer in C++ and Java, when I asked an informed friend for pointer on getting going with the 'world of flash stuffs,' he pointed me to this book. I feel that was in error. Instead, use the official guide "Programming ActionScript 3.0," which is a sizeable pdf freely downloadable from Adobe (google the phrase in quotes to get the link).

Moock's attempts to be 'tool independent' in his presentation, which creates pain for the learner, as it's generally unclear (till the very end) how to run any of the examples he seems to be so carefully building up. Given I respect the distinction between books for beginners vs. for experts, the reason I'm bothering to return to score this book poorly, is how Moock presents the content as if his exposition represents a good set of stepping stones for a beginner to walk up - which I strongly feel it is not. Conversely, "Programming ActionScript 3.0" is not only much better in how it steps into and through the content, but also much stronger in its coverage.


PS - even now, past the basics, between the two, I still always make "Programming ActionScript 3.0" where to look first for how to do anything, not "Essential ActionScript 3.0"

Good book, far from great - 2009-10-29
Reviewer Rating:
For starters, the book is definitely not geared for beginners. The author jumps into concepts that beginners won't understand. I've been programming for more than 10 years so I had no problems understanding the content... but be warned if this is your first programming book. Furthermore, he constantly tells the reader to "jump to chapter X" if you don't understand something. As a result, Moock totally failed at giving a start-to-finish explanation of programming (regardless of language).

I'd say that the first 1/3 of the book is pretty well done. The explanation of ActionScript's syntax is excellent. Moock has you building a "Virtual Zoo" application as you go through each chapter, adding new features to the application with each new concept...

...but then he abandons the whole "Virtual Zoo" application as you enter the second and third parts of the book. There is an appendix at the end of the book which offers the full application code, but it would have been awesome if Moock continued to illustrate how to use each concept in the context of building this application. Instead, he has about 1 1/2 pages telling you what he added, gives you the code, and expects you to figure out what the hell he did.

I'll be honest and say that I had to skim most of the second and third parts of the book. With no reference to the "Virtual Zoo" application and crappy, non-real-world examples the later chapters are pretty dry.

On a positive note, Moock does an excellent job explaining the details of each class he discusses. The definitions are clear. But because there's little reference to real-world application (again, in the later chapters) they're just hard to digest without slamming your head against a desk.

If the book weren't advertised as a beginner's book, I would have given it 3 stars. It's a nice reference book for ActionScript 3.0 -- but I've learned more in a few days of searching Google than I did from the final 2/3 of this book.

Very good action script reference - 2010-01-09
Reviewer Rating:
Very detailed and well organized book.
This is a must to have reference for any action script developer.

Best Book on AS - 2009-12-12
Reviewer Rating:
This is hands down the best book on ActionScript. It sticks to true O'reilly style and there is not an ounce of fluff in this massive book. This book is meant for Beginners to ActionScript, not beginners to Object Oriented Programming. If you have a background in Java (and/or Swing), you will love this book because a lot of UI programming in AS is similar to Swing (the Observer pattern, the layout managers etc are similar). If you are brand new to programming understand that this is not a simple script learning book - it digs into dynamically modifying object behavior at run time, that is not even supported in Java and C#.
The first part of the book deals with core AS - the usual stuff - control structures, functions etc. But beware - if you are new to AS, do not skip anything in this book. This book covers interesting twists even in the most banal of topics, like iterating arrays. Although I am familiar with namespaces in Java and C++, this book really takes namespaces to the next level and talks about how program flow can be modified using dynamic namespaces. Of course, I really did not understand how this approach is better than interfaces, it is something AS supports and you must understand if you are doing AS and that this book competently explains.
There is information available on the internet on AS, but you will come nowhere near to how much you will really learn from this book. Even beyond AS, it takes your OOD understanding to the next level and deals with concepts that will help you understand advanced JavaScript (Prototypes, function enclosures etc).
This book is worth its weight in gold.

Essential is a Very Appropriate Title - 2009-11-16
Reviewer Rating:
No matter if you are new to actionscript 3.0 or a experienced developer - you have to have and read this book. It's simple like that. It is, as the title says, essential. For me, besides having access to great explanations about how actionscript works, which is something you will not find anywhere else, this book helped a lot to improve the way I was writing my code - and I am not a developer, just a nosy designer.

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