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Using Flash MX ActionScript
Conclusion
Flash MX, ColdFusion, and Flash Remoting Combine to Make the Client-Server
Computing Easier
The above picture shows the path of communication between the client, Application
servers, and the database. The Flash Remoting is shown in between the Flash
Player and the Application server. Lozben says, “Remoting simplifies
the Macromedia Flash application development process by providing a programming
mode and runtime support for connecting ActionScript directly to remote server
objects (at http://www.macromedia.com/desdev/mx/flashcom/articles/coding_guidelines.html,
2002).”
Disadvantages of Flash ActionScript
Most of the disadvantages of Flash have to do with programmers not designing
their applications correctly. When this happens, the applications load slowly,
and are hard to use.
Advantages of Flash ActionScript
Flash has many advantages for programmers and users alike. Aberdeen Group,
Inc. says that Macromedia has given Web developers a productive framework for
assembling scalable, secure, well-performing Internet applications (at http://www.macromedia.com/software/flashremoting/whitepapers/pdf/flr_architecture.pdf,
2002).” See Appendix A at the end of this paper for Macromedia’s
list of 10 reasons why it is advantageous for you to buy Flash MX.
Is Flash worth using?
Macromedia Flash has come a long way since it began its existence as a plug-in
for rendering animated movies in the web browser. Flash programmers can now
create full-blown web applications that make the user experience better, and
faster than in the past. In addition, with Flash Remoting that helps translate
the data from the Flash Player to the server(s) and back again. This allows
for instantaneous access of data stored in the database. Aberdeen Group, Inc
says, “The Flash MX/Flash Remoting MX offering is a timely and fully
realized answer to the distributed object challenge that provides significant
development and runtime advantages over XML (at http://www.macromedia.com/software/flashremoting/whitepapers/pdf/flr_architecture.pdf,
2002).” Is Flash worth using? I think it is worth using even if extra
time is needed to make sure the applications meet usability requirements for
disabled users. It just makes sense to offer the users an experience that will
give them less grief in the end.
Here is another person's (Matthew David, from InformIT), opinion on whether
Flash MX is worth the upgrade,
http://www.informit.com/isapi/product_id~%7B29B398D2-17D3-4876-9C29-59DB8082E8E2%7D/content/index.asp
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