16 Responses to “Learning Fx4 from Scratch - Part 1 - Application”

1. #  sotirov October 20, 2009 12:46 PM

   Is it easier to start with Flex 4 or Flex 3 if you have to choose now and why?  

2. #  David Got MAUG'ed October 20, 2009 1:27 PM

   This is a great blog and a good start to learn Flash Builder 4. Note that it would be great if you leave some homework assignment, so that I can try out your concepts and the solution can be posted next week. What do you think?  

3. #  Rob McKeown October 20, 2009 1:30 PM

   Now that you have mentioned the DataGrid, I can't help but ask... "When will we get an improved DataGrid/AdvancedDataGrid"  

4. #  Greg B October 20, 2009 1:46 PM

   Learning the skinning architecture in FX4 is valuable too as it will save you from writing tons of custom components or programmatic skins just to get a different look. Skinning is FX4 is much better.  

5. #  Anonymous October 20, 2009 1:47 PM

   Just to clarify what Ted said...with Flex 4, you can freely mix and match the old components and new ones with ease. So the fact that there is no spark datagrid shouldn't prevent you from choosing Flex 4 and spark.
   
   Ely Greenfield
   Adobe, Flex SDK.  

6. #  Anonymous October 20, 2009 1:48 PM

   Ted -- we've found on the team, and in talking with Developers, that the term 'Halo' for the older components is confusing, as it's also the name of the Flex 3 theme. So we've stopped referring to them as Halo components, and now simply call the 'MX' components.
   
   Ely Greenfield
   Adobe, Flex SDK.  

7. #  bigfish October 20, 2009 2:14 PM

   Would be great if you could discuss upgrading a Flex3 app to Flex4.. I understand that you can gradually add in s:components , by adding the s:namespace , but I'm wondering if it is possible to combine the two versions of the MXML language itself (2006 v 2009) ? I don't see that this is possible as you either have a mx:Application or a s:Application. So then you'd have to do a bunch of rewriting of features such as States, which have changed dramatically.Also it seems hard to mix and match the themes.  

8. #  Ted Patrick October 20, 2009 2:47 PM

   80% of the core features are identical from FX3 to FX4. The new areas are States, Graphics, and new Spark Components. It really depends on the project at hand. My take is that many projects will stay on FX3 and new projects will lean towards FX4. You can use any of the MX Components within a FX4 app.
   
   I would learn FX4 as it will cover all of FX3 and leave you with new skills and marketability as a developer.
   
   My 2 cents,
   
   Ted :)  

9. #  kenny.bunch October 20, 2009 3:22 PM

   I really appreciate the work that has been done with Flex 4. I tend to want to use it for current projects rather than Flex 3. When will we be at a point that even though it is in beta the Framework won't be in much flux?
   
   On a second note, the skinning architecture is great. However, it seems that the skins are tied to code. Pure assets that are then applied to skin logic?  

10. #  Ted Patrick October 20, 2009 4:21 PM

    Kenny,
    
    With Beta 2 things are very stable. Also given the levels of testing going on now internally on SDK and Builder, it is 100% bug fixing time. I think it is perfect time to invest, hence the posts.
    
    Ted :)  

11. #  Anonymous October 21, 2009 2:23 AM

    Well issue i have with the Beta program is there is apps built using beta 1 of FB 4 should seamlessly work with Beta 2 of FB4. Even if there are descrepencies it should be logged and atleast provide a workaround.
    
    For example the AdvancedDataGrid is totally broken in Beta 2(regression). It throws some runtime errors. Whereas the same code worked in Beta 1. Is there a way users can compile their projects with the SDK level that was in Beta 1?? Not sure if this is the right place to air this issue... i have also logged this issue at the JIRA site.  

12. #  Mirux October 21, 2009 6:59 AM

    Way to go Ted, great work. Keep it up!  

13. #  Viv October 22, 2009 9:35 AM

    Ted great to see your tutorials. I do believe that if you could make these tutorials "as screen cast" then they would be even more effective. Not only that but also you could cover more than in the same amount of time. We also could hear your famous voice!!!! :-).  

14. #  Ted Patrick October 22, 2009 1:28 PM

    Yeah to blog post format leaves much to be desired. My current thinking was to turn this into a Wiki with screencasts embedded.
    
    Expect things to change.
    
    Ted :)  

15. #  Madan Chowdary October 22, 2009 4:58 PM

    Its really a good start to break up the learning Flex4 from scratch.
    
    Keeping up busy in projects building on Flex3, these tutorials will help us to upgrade ourselfs learning Flex4.
    
    Thanks once again.
    
    Madan Narra
    2much2learn.com  

16. #  MossyBlog November 12, 2009 11:45 AM

    Ted,
    
    Glad i'm not the only one who had to go back to Flex school. 3 years in Microsoft, my flex know-how went a bit dull ;)
    
    Keep up the FX4 work.