Presenter: Scott Davis

• Flex plugin for Grails isn't a simple plugin like the YUI plugin
  • technologies are too different from one another to fully integrate
• What's Flex?
  • free open source framework, but Flex Builder costs
  • lots of technologies floating around
    • some free of cost, some free and open source, some for pay
• we are living in the era of the RIA
  • poorly defined
  • involves flex, air, silverlight, openlaszlo, ajax, java fx
    • java fx is applets redux--that's how they're deployed
      • some nice new stuff, but still 1995 technology with a new marketing plan
  • adobe has crushing lead in the ria space
  • lots of politics come into play--e.g. no flash player on iphone
    • apple converts all youtube content to quicktime to avoid having to use the flash player
• have macromedia to thank for the ria term
  • idea was can't use same technology already in browser for rich experience
  • solution is plugins into the browser
• plugins aren't new
  • applets introduced in 1995
  • lasting achievement of java applets is the warning asking whether or not you trust the applet
• fast-forward to 2005
  • jesse james garret coins "AJAX" term
    • blog post discusses how web developers are envious of desktop developers
    • pointed to google suggest and google maps as examples
    • major thing is eliminating the page loads
    • amazing thing about google maps is they did it without a plugin
• great divide (?)
  • can either have js + css + html, or can use a plugin
  • walls are starting to crumble however--hybrid development
  • apple desktop widgets
    • native part of OS but live in a different space
    • create in html, css, and js
    • use the webkit framework for rendering
    • gadgets in windows are similar
  • palm pre
    • webos
    • build apps with basic web languages
  • google chrome OS
    • OS based on chrome web browser
    • isn't a scrim on top of OS like widgets and gadgets
  • notion of pulling up a web browser to run webapps will soon be seen as rather quaint
  • Adobe AIR is one attempt to eliminate the browser from the equation
  • idea of ubiquitous web also well represented by iTunes
    • webkit browser baked in
  • future of software development -- of course it's web enabled
    • the idea of web/not web will fade into the woodwork
• twitter example of how ecosystem can develop around an API and core data
  • twitter doesn't have to own the hardware and software

Nuts and Bolts of Flex

• grails plugins assume you're conversant with the acronyms and technologies involved with Flex
• flash player is where flex apps run
• flash player revs about every year, and the new players get adopted very quickly--huge adoption rate
  • 80%+ of users are on the most recent version
  • many, many more people run old versions of java as compared to flash
• flash player on most mobile platforms but not on iphone
• adobe recently released tools to allow for compilation of flex apps into native iphone apps
• flash offers similar "write once run anywhere" experience
  • java: class files run in JVM, JVM native to OS
  • flash: swf files run in Flash Player, Flash Player native to OS
  • javascript model is a bit different--still breaking differences between the browsers
    • javascript libraries get around the browser incompatibilities
    • javascript engines in the browser aren't pluggable/upgradable
• ECMAScript -- standard with 3 major dialects: javascript, actionscript, jscript
• js engines
  • firefox: spidermonkey
  • chrome: v8 engine
  • IE: JScript 5.8
  • flash/flex: actionscript engine
• adobe collaborating with mozilla
  • donated actionscript virtual machine (AVM2) to the mozilla foundation
  • tamarin will be used for javascript 2
  • same javascript engine as used in flash player
  • javascript is traditionally interpreted
  • V8 and Tamarin do a lot of just-in-time compiling
  • probably be years before this is a standard
• swf is a partially open file format
  • specs are published, but adobe retains ownership
  • everyone can read/write swf files, but spec isn't open for change
• openlaszlo
  • because swf format is open, openlaszlo is written in lzx but generates a swf
• flex is an sdk
  • big switch from the animation history of flash--flex is a 'business toolkit'
  • flash player is free but not open source
  • adobe dabbling with open source--tamarin, open source sdk
  • flex builder isn't even free as in beer
    • eclipse plugin
    • also plugin for intellij
• here's what we know so far
  • jvm (jre) == flash player
  • class (JAR) == swf
  • jdk == flex sdk

Deeper Dive Into Flex

• two key technologies: mxml and actionscript
• mxml--tag-based like html
  • declarative, nested hierarchy of widgets
  • mxml is the html/css analog in this environment
• actionscript
  • ecmascript dialect
    • if you know JS do you know AS? yes and no
  • first official version of AS was in Flash Player 5
  • huge maturation with AS 2, even more with AS 3
    • AS has been sliding more and more towards Java in terms of strong typing, inheritance, packages, etc.

Flex Development

• need flex sdk
• similar manual install process as with groovy and grails
  • set up flex home directory as an environment variable, add flex bin to path
  • mxmlc compiles mxml/AS code into swf
• can buy Flash Builder, but isn't required for development
  • development experience isn't nearly as good without Flash Builder
• IntelliJ has Flex capabilities as well (only in pro version)
• Google provides SWCs to incorporate google maps into flex appss

Grails Plugins

• four plugins
• GraniteDS Flex Plugin--seems to be most mature and well documented
  • includes GraniteDS for data services
  • originally required JPA, not GORM
  • GORM support now in the plugin (experimental)
  • install the plugin, annotate the services and controllers
  • can then generate AS3 domain classes as well as the flex app itself

Contact Suzanne McIntosh (suzanne.mcintosh@ncwresources.com) for more details.

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Responsibilities: The candidate will be part of a TEAM that is responsible for development, delivery and maintenance of applications and websites based on ColdFusion and Oracle database back-end. He/she will participate in software and hardware migrations and may administer Web Server and Web Application Service software. The successful candidate will work closely with various clients to fine tune requirements in developing ColdFusion web applications. The individual must have an excellent knowledge with hands-on experience performing analysis and design, as well as implementation and follow-up maintenance of website applications. He/she needs to be aware of Government 508 Compliancy requirements and have an experience with ColdFusion coding and tags. He/she must demonstrate effectiveness as a team player and possess strong attention to details. The candidate will be required to work closely with clients and staff to solve technical problems and ensure the technical feasibility of all business requirements.

Qualifications: Working knowledge of Microsoft Windows platform and IIS Web Server, ColdFusion MX, HTML, Java Script, VB Scripts and experience with Internet services including HTTP, HTTPS, FTP, SFTP and SMTP. Other required skills include experience with PL/SQL, Oracle 8i - 10g and Microsoft SQL server environments. Demonstrated ability to work independently and as a team-member with all levels of the staff. Must be a quick learner and have excellent interpersonal skills. Proficient experience in all phases of Software Development Life Cycle is required Strong oral and written communication skills. Education/Experience: BA or BS degree in Computer Science or a related field with a minimum of 3 years ColdFusion and SQL experience.

Must have Adobe Flex.

BFusion/BFlex is coming up on October 24 - 25 in Bloomington, IN. This is a FANTASTIC conference with presentations from the industry's top CFML and Flex experts, and it's only $10 for both days. No, I'm not missing a 0 there; it's really only $10!

I've been to every BFusion since its inception and Bob Flynn knows how to put on a great conference. The facilities are fantastic, and on both days of the conference you can attend a full-day track to dig deep into a specific topic (Team Mach-II did a full day on Mach-II last year, and this year Dan Wilson is covering Model-Glue), and there are shorter sessions in beginner, intermediate, and advanced tracks as well. Check the BFusion and BFlex schedules for all the details. Nowhere else can you get a day of training in either Flex or ColdFusion straight from Adobe trainers for such an incredibly low price.

New to the conference this year is BNight, which is a night before the conference (10/23) being hosted by SproutBox to allow attendees and speakers can mingle and get laptops, etc. set up for the sessions the next day. I think this is a great idea that will save a ton of time in the sessions themselves. This means maximum learning in the sessions so this is a great (and fun!) addition to the conference.

This year I'm speaking on "Open CFML: Building and Deploying CFML Applications on an Open Source Stack," so if you're interested in learning how to take advantage of the open source CFML engines, this will be a great session. I'm also helping Kurt Wiersma and Peter Farrell with the "What's New in Mach-II 1.8" session. We'll probably tip our hand a bit to what's planned for Mach-II 1.9 and 2.0 as well, so you won't want to miss it.

Registration will be opening soon so once it does, jump on it! You absolutely won't regret it.

See you in a couple of weeks!

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FLEX SOFTWARE DEVELOPER – Potomac-Rockville area – 85-100K for a
growing software company

Seeking a Flex Software Developer. Will be coding software in Flex and
ColdFusion. Write technical requirements, work on designing the software
product and work with SQL Server in writing queries and stored procedures.
5 years of web development experience to include experience with Flex,
ColdFusion and SQL Server. Eclipse desired. Ability to analyze,
troubleshoot and contribute to the development process is required. Degree
preferred. Full benefits.

This Role requires expertise in Flash/Flex Development. This position will work closely with Product Managers, Designers, User Experience and Creative Teams to deliver hot, cutting edge web and client based applications and affiliated presentation components.

For this role we require the following:

1. Minimum of 3+ years of Flash/Flex Development working on Major Flash RIA
2. Strong command of ActionScript 3.0 and OOP
3. Experience working with Flash Apps that use XML and Server Side Technologies (including an understanding of XSD/DTD for validation.
4. Understanding of Flash Memory Management
5. Solid understanding of Web Browsers
6. Ability to mentor and coach others in Flash/Flex

We would like to see a portfolio, or some other way to show us your work.
This role will be very visible and you can be assured that you will be working on projects that are substantial.

Our client is extremely well-known and offers a truly fun and casual work environment. You'll be in a team of highly talented and creative developers.