If you want to try your hand at developing rich Internet applications with Adobe's Flex 3, and already have experience with frameworks such as .NET or Java, this is the ideal book to get you started. Programming Flex 3 gives you a solid understanding of Flex 3's core concepts, and valuable insight into how, why, and when to use specific Flex features. Numerous examples and sample code demonstrate ways to build complete, functional applications for the Web, using the free Flex SDK, and RIAs for the desktop, using Adobe AIR. This book is an excellent companion to Adobe's Flex 3 reference documentation. With this book, you will:

• Learn the underlying details of the Flex framework

• Program with MXML and ActionScript

• Arrange the layout and deal with UI components

• Work with media

• Manage state for applications and components

• Use transitions and effects

• Debug your Flex applications

• Create custom components

• Embed Flex applications in web browsers

• Build AIR applications for the desktop

Flex 3 will put you at the forefront of the RIA revolution on both the Web and the desktop. Programming Flex 3 will help you get the most from this amazing and sophisticated technology.

Amazon.com® Reader Reviews (Ranked by Helpfulness)

Average Amazon.com® Rating:  Based on 8 Ratings

Omitting Remote Object? - 2009-04-13
Reviewer Rating:
My company have bought several copies of this book for various employees. We use Java and Flex and looking for integration. The only optimized way to do this is with Remote Objects.

As the previous review mentioned, On page 471, on the bottom, there is a square with bear tracks on it. Look at that section ...

"Several of the Remoting gateway products have added support for a Flex data component called RemoteObject. However, because we have found no practical use for RemoteObject, we are omitting any discussion of RemoteObject in this chapter."

Word for word.

In other words, the author did not do his job. RemoteObjects are heavily used throughout the world and this guy can not think of a reason? Google is your friend.

While this book is great on the Flex only side, the author have failed miserably on Remoting.

This is definately a 0 (no effort provided) star review, but unfortunately, Amazon limits the minimum to 1 star ...

Best Flex (and one of best overall) Programming books - 2009-07-19
Reviewer Rating:
Just finished reading all 600+ pages. I have four other Flex books I've read/perused. This book is by far the best flex book WTR understanding and applying its architecture. Combine it with the "Flex 3 Bible" by Gassner and I think that's all you should need. Most programming books give you a a lot more hows, and a lot less whys. This book is all about why, not simple hows. Knowing why to do something will, long term, be of great benefit.

Also the writing in this books is exemplary. Very clear, not too wordy, not too concise, and very good use of illustrative examples. Really, really excellent. Few programming books of this length can I read and understand over the course of a day or two. Usually such books require a read thru, then re-reference. But because of the excellence of the writing, I did not find this the case here. Literally sat and read it front to back over the course of three days.

Looking at the other reviews, it appears some others have complained about examples, or thoroughness of a feature description. Again, this is a book about why you make programming decisions, not how to write the code -- get the Bible for this. IMHO, it does a pretty good job with the examples, but it is not the intent of the book. Finally, the authors end the book with a discussion of a full app they wrote accessing Flickr. The entire source code is available for download, and provides a very in-depth "example". Strongly suggest readers DL and read thru the code references the explanations the authors provide in the book.

I have read a lot of books about programming, and this is one of the best. Going back to some of my other Flex books, they seem simplistic now.

Finally, I've taken note of the two companies for which the authors work (from the book's jacket). If they contribute to these as well to these as they did the book, then might be a good investment -- notably Kazoun who is a co-founder and tech architect. Unusual investment strategy, but that's the high regard I hold for these two authors.

Well thought out and comprehensive - 2009-02-23
Reviewer Rating:
It is clear the authors of Programming Flex 3 worked very hard to write a comprehensive, easy-to-read publication. Their examples are great - very simple such that they highlight the concepts being presented. I have been working with Flex for a couple years but reading this book definitely brought my game up a notch based on a more clear understanding of the Flex framework, authoring components, and several other key principles.

If I had to offer one critique, I'd have liked to see some more coverage of synchronous network communication with Flex (sockets, Flash Media Server, etc.), but the dedicated chapter on AIR more than makes up for this.

great book - 2009-02-16
Reviewer Rating:

this is great book for getting started with flex 3. it starts out with the basic stuff, how to build a flex application, explains controls, events, etc. works into more advanced stuff with coding samples & tricks. highly recommended.

Great reference - 2009-01-27
Reviewer Rating:
Information provided is very helpfull to have solid understanding of inner workings of Flex. Great content within least amount of pages. Must have reference.

Browse Similar Topics

Top Level Categories:
Graphics
Internet/Online

Sub-Categories:
Graphics > Flash
Flash > ActionScript
Internet/Online > Flex