Flex for the most need to know 10 things

1. Flex is a web standard

MXML is a Flex application’s standard language, which allows developers to customize the structure of applications, including not only the layout also includes the class structure, and very easy to tag, this characteristic is very convenient there is web design and development background developers, similar to HTML Development of MXML. Same, Flex’s ActionScript and JavaScript similar, Flex using web standards to control the layout of CSS. Flex Application of a convenient way to customize the application structure, tree structure similar to a prototype language and containers perfect combination of the application component model. Source code can easily publish, rather than binary IDE required documents, but very easy readability of the text file.

It is worth mentioning that MXML is an ActionScript shorthand, ECMA-compliant scripting language, MXML at compile-time converted into ActionScript 3.

2. Flex is a Flash

If you are familiar with Flash over the past provided by lightweight vector animations and advanced user interface, so you will not be unfamiliar to the Flex. Flex set up at the top on top of Flash Player, engine possession at all Flash content, In this regard, nothing can make are Flash and Flex should not make.

3. Flex Just Works

Flex replace a lot of companies use Java, because a similar provision and Java cross-platform capability and a modern object-oriented architecture, but only required a much smaller package and the extra load. Flex applications can be completed entirely web-based software, as well as desktop software (combination of Adobe AIR).

4. Flex from the server restrictions

Flex constituted by the data, be able to accept data in different formats and the most and the most common server interaction. Load XML through local or remote, JSP, PHP, ASP, ColdFusion, etc.. You through the HTTP or SOAP web services to download information and even be able to directly read and write Java clients to SQLLite database.

5. Flex your appearance can be customized arbitrary

Flex applications can be customized the appearance of very large, you can switch back and forth, “skin” and the custom UI. This is not like Java or JavaScript, is not inherited by the running operating system UI, which means that Flex runs on Mac OSX, the button will not turn into a Mac-style button, Flex built-in appearance from their own set.

6. Flex is a lightweight and fast

Set up in ActionScript 3 on, Flex framework is a very quick pace. Initialization time for ActionScript 2 has been greatly improved. Flex adoption of a new JIT (Just-in-Time) compiler, accelerated speed. Of course, some people will argue that the use of a set of user interface components must affect the speed, in fact, a typical framework for the use of AJAX applications than similar, to a large Flex applications, Flash Player only a few M-byte, and often pre-installed on the computer. It is also worth mentioning the new features, namely the framework of the cache, can save a lot of big part of an integral part of the framework of download time. This function can be stored standard Flex UI components on the user’s machine so that other Flex applications run-time without having to download the entire framework.

7. Flex is a barrier-free

Flash content a lot of people think it is very difficult to access, this is a misconception. In fact, Flex framework components have a very good interaction, such as screen readers and keyboard navigation, developers only need to open the switch (default is off).

8. Flex compatible with search engine optimization

Flash content difficult Indexed search engine, it has been for the contents of web development. Adobe recently released search engine optimization for the special version of Flash Player. Of course, this takes time to completely solve the problem.

9. Flex is free and open source

Flex is completely open source, the entire framework source code can be downloaded at Adobe website.

10. Flex is easy to learn

MXML is very simple, easy to understand. If you have used HTML and CSS, you can quickly get started MXML.