Mike Benner: Flex, Oh How You Have Changed...

Flex, Oh How You Have Changed...

Mar 28 by Michael Benner

...And I think I love you (or more accurately flash remoting) again.

Flash back to ColdFusion 6 MX and Flash 5. Something called Flash Remoting was added to the mix and it let me put data into Flash from ColdFusion. Now I am a CF developer not a Flash Designer, but I as beaming with ideas on how cool this would be.

So my company embarked on a project to make a CRM in

Flash using remoting and a then name project call "Tin Can" (which became Flash Comm Server, and is now Flash Media Server). The project had its ups and downs and was ultimately cancelled due to time to develop and some technical limitations.

Shortly after Flex 1 came out and solved the time to develop problem but was EXPENSIVE and sluggish (compiled server side upon request), so we just stuck to CF and ultimately AJAX for our CRM and from that point forward I pretty much ignored Flex (although was intrigued with AIR).

Man was I stupid. After this weeks Adobe Developer Seminars I realized something. Flex Kicks Ass. Compiled at development, LiveCycle Express included in CF8, blazeDS open source and the IDE works in my Aptana install.

So I knocked off the rust and got back to it. I was working on a module for a client (same client who saw our alpha Flash CRM) who was looking for something new and different on their intranet so I ported my current work to a Flex prototype and they were sold. "I want Flex through out my site. I thought you guys abandoned this tech years ago."

So for everyone who got in early and was disheartened by issues in the beginning, get back in the water is great. I am so glad Adobe opened my eyes and can't believe I have been so behind on this because of early experience. I now vow to check out new versions of software I have had problems with because you never now what might change.