PokerCoder announced that the 8th Adobe sponsored Poker tournament was now open for registration a few days ago and there are apparently only litarally a couple of places left so if you\’re quick and qualify to enter then get along to the PokerCoder site and register pronto.
It seems that recently people, good people, are coming out of the woodwork to point out that they might not always like to deliver their Flash Platform solutions as OO solutions. I hear the collective gasp of horror and revilement from the community of Actionscript developers who have spent years refining their coding and OO methodologies to a point where they can code in Java with little effort. I myself am one of those coders. However, I am forever using the term ‘Pragmatic’ when I speak to staff and peers alike. Look at the big picture. Not everyone wants a solution that takes 2 months to deliver because you have to develop redundant, reusable, unit tested OO code. Many clients want throw away solutions and have no likelihood of code reuse. The problem is that we’ve become enamored with the idea of perfecting and using only code. Anyone who speaks of the timeline does so with contempt and some even call for it’s removal altogether, suggesting that it is the province of antiquated, knuckle dragging wanna-be coders. Not like us ‘real’ coders. Read the rest of this entry »
The publishers have just let me know that Flash and Flex Developer magazine (available as hard copy of for download) is nearly half price for a year’s subscription but only until tomorrow (Feb 14th). So if you’d like to get this excellent magazine at one-year USD 49.00 (Euro 39.00) / two-year USD 79.00 (Euro 69.00) then get to the site and sign up quick.
If you’re lucky enough to be in the States then you also have the good fortune to be able to get Flash and Flex Developer magazine. Ewa (the Editor) tells me there are no fixed plans to launch in Europe yet, but if you’d like to see it here then let me know and if there are enough of us I’ll petition FFD. This is a shame because it genuinely is for the true developer. This month’s issue is packed full of developer goodness.
Amongst the excellent and useful topics are:
All good $h!t and relevant whether you are an intermediate or advanced developer. But it doesn’t end there. The magazine caters for the whole Flash Platform : Flex, Flash, Actionscript, Flash Lite, AIR, associated work flow tools, editors, databases etc. Anything and everything that works with or in the Flash Platform.
Ok, I’m going to Milan. It took a bit of persuasion as I really wanted to go to Max in San Fran, but I discovered that there are some awesome speakers at Milan who won’t be in San Fran and after all, that’s one of the main reasons we go to these things. If you’re able to get out there then I suggest you do. Flights are cheaper now and the hotels are very reasonable and as usual there’ll be the usual partying and super networking going on in the evenings. Which of course is NOT one of the reason I’m going 
“Adobe MAX is a large annual event held by Adobe in North America, Europe and Japan. The purpose of the event to provide unique opportunities for those in the computer design and development industries to connect and learn the latest cutting-edge technologies that Adobe releases.” (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adobe_MAX)
This year’s European event is taking place December 1st – 3rd in Milan, Italy. If you’re interested in Adobe’s technology roadmap, new product announcements or want to learn more about the Flash Platform and Flex through hands-on labs and over 50 Flex developer sessions then MAX Europe is for you. Use the session browser to explore all the sessions at MAX: http://max.adobe.com/eu/sessions/browser/
MAX highlights
This year, there are a host of speakers travelling from the UK to speak at MAX, alongside Adobe product managers, evangelists and designers & developers from all around the world. Here are just some of the sessions from UK speakers:
If you are one of my PokerCoder members, I will be sending you a discount code that Adobe have given me specifically for you 
All right you ‘orrible lot. Stand to attention when I’m shouting at you! On my command, register for the London Flex Camp later this month. wait for it…wait for it. Two, three, click here. (Sorry, to do this justice you really need to know who Sargent Major Windsor Davies is.)
Flex Camp London 08 is a FREE, community-run event for everyone interested in Adobe Flex! Whether you’re just getting started with Flex or you’re an expert, Flex Camp aims to provide something for you.
Adobe have lined up some of the most experienced Flex developers in the UK who will share their knowledge on everything from creating your first application, connecting to data, creating components and development best practices through to selecting an application framework for larger projects.
I suppose that it’s appropriate that as I have strong views on the subject myself and that the book is aimed at Flash AND Flex developers, the first question should be about Flex vs Flash.
Tell me which is better and why: Flex or Flash? Always contentious I know, but fuck it, it’s my book
I’ve explored this question myself over the years since Flex was first proposed to me at an Adobe presentation, and in real terms, I know what the ‘real’ answer is. However, what I really want is opinion backed by reason.
Post your answer here and check back on Friday to see if you’ve won (I’ll get contact details then).
My first book was officially published by Friends of Ed on 17th Dec 2007: Foundation Actionscript 3.0 for Flash CS3 and Flex. However, it didn’t hit the UK book shelves until just this week. I co-authored it with Steve Webster and Todd Yard, who are both well known in the community and world class developers in their own right, and I was very lucky to work along side them. Their knowledge and experience is obvious in this book and I can only hope my first authoring efforts were worthy to be along side theirs. Read the rest of this entry »
Yes, that’s right. FREE. Craaaaazy Adobe have teamed up with Insaaaaaane Total Training to offer a crazy 30 day free subscription access to Flex training online videos. See the advert below. Everything must go. Sign up before they take Adobe and Total Training away to the mental asylum. As I previously inferred, they’re crazy. Don’t forget the Activation Code. Read the rest of this entry »
Learn AS3 for Flex and Flash
The latest issue of Flash and Flex Developer is now out!