Apache Flex

Apache Flex
Developer(s) Apache Software Foundation and Adobe Systems
Initial release June 20, 2004
Stable release 4.15.0 / January 11, 2016 (2016-01-11)
Development status Active
Written in ActionScript, Java[1]
Operating system Windows, Mac OS X, Linux, Android, iOS, BlackBerry Tablet OS
Available in Various between websites
Type Software development kit application
License Apache License version 2.0
Website Apache Flex and Adobe Flex

Apache Flex, formerly Adobe Flex, is a software development kit (SDK) for the development and deployment of cross-platform rich Internet applications based on the Adobe Flash platform. Initially developed by Macromedia and then acquired by Adobe Systems, Adobe donated Flex to the Apache Software Foundation in 2011[2] and it was promoted to a top-level project in December 2012.

The Flex 3 SDK was released under the open source Mozilla Public License in 2008. Consequently, Flex applications can be developed using standard IDEs, for example IntelliJ IDEA, Eclipse, the free and open source IDE FlashDevelop, as well as the proprietary Adobe Flash Builder. The latest version of the SDK is version 4.15.0. It is released under version 2 of the Apache License.

Overview

Flex uses MXML to define UI layout and other non-visual static aspects, ActionScript to address dynamic aspects and as code-behind, and requires Adobe AIR or Flash Player at runtime to run the application.[3]

Versions

Macromedia Flex 1.0 and 1.5

Macromedia targeted the enterprise application development market with its initial releases of Flex 1.0 and 1.5. The company offered the technology at a price around US$15,000 per CPU.[4] Required for deployment, the Java EE application server compiled MXML and ActionScript on-the-fly into Flash applications (binary SWF files). Each server license included 5 licenses for the Flex Builder IDE.

Adobe Flex 2

Adobe significantly changed the licensing model for the Flex product line with the release of Flex 2. The core Flex 2 SDK, consisting of the command-line compilers and the complete class library of user interface components and utilities, was made available as a free download. Complete Flex applications can be built and deployed with only the Flex 2 SDK, which contains no limitations or restrictions compared to the same SDK included with the Flex Builder IDE.

Adobe based the new version of Flex Builder on the open source Eclipse platform. The company released two versions of Flex Builder 2, Standard and Professional. The Professional version includes the Flex Charting Components library.

Enterprise-oriented services remain available through Flex Data Services 2. This server component provides data synchronization, data push, publish-subscribe and automated testing. Unlike Flex 1.0 and 1.5, Flex Data Services is not required for the deployment of Flex applications.

Coinciding with the release of Flex 2, Adobe introduced a new version of the ActionScript programming language, known as Actionscript 3, reflecting the latest ECMAScript specification. The use of ActionScript 3 and Flex 2 requires version 9 or later of the Flash Player runtime. Flash Player 9 incorporated a new and more robust virtual machine for running the new ActionScript 3.

Flex was the first Macromedia product to be re-branded under the Adobe name.

Adobe Flex 3

On April 26, 2007 Adobe announced their intent to release the Flex 3 SDK (which excludes the Flex Builder IDE and the LiveCycle Data Services) under the terms of the Mozilla Public License.[5] Adobe released the first beta of Flex 3, codenamed Moxie, in June 2007. Major enhancements include integration with the new versions of Adobe's Creative Suite products, support for AIR (Adobe's new desktop application runtime), and the addition of profiling and refactoring tools to the Flex Builder IDE.

Adobe Flash Builder and Flex 4

Adobe released Flex 4.0 (code named Gumbo) on March 22, 2010.[6] The Flex 4 development environment is called Adobe Flash Builder,[7] formerly known as Adobe Flex Builder.

Some themes that have been mentioned by Adobe and have been incorporated into Flex 4 are as follows:

Flash Builder is available in two versions: Standard and Premium,[9] the premium adds the following features;

Adobe Flash Builder 4.5 and Flex 4.5

May 3, 2011, Adobe shipped Flash Builder 4.5 copying Flex 4.5 (SDK Only) which delivers full support for building Flex and ActionScript applications for Google Android, as well as support for building ActionScript applications for BlackBerry Tablet OS and Apple iOS. An update to Flash Builder 4.5 and Flex 4.5 adds support for building Flex applications for BlackBerry Tablet OS and Apple iOS.

Flex 4.5 SDK delivers many new components and capabilities, along with integrated support in Flash Builder 4.5 and Flash Catalyst CS 5.5. With the Adobe Flex 4.5 SDK which is governed by three main goals:

Adobe Flex 4.6.0

In November 2011 Adobe released Flex SDK update 4.6, with the following changes:

Apache Flex 4.8.0 - incubating

Jul 25, 2012, Apache Flex community releases Flex 4.8.0-incubating and it as a parity release with Adobe Flex 4.6.0. This is the first release under the incubator of the Apache Software Foundation and represents the initial donation of Adobe Flex 4.6 by Adobe System Inc.[10]

Differences and highlights include:

Apache Flex 4.9.0

Jan 11, 2013, Apache Flex community releases Flex 4.9.0. This is the first release since Apache Flex became a top level project of the Apache Software Foundation.[11]

Differences and highlights include:

Apache Flex 4.9.1

Feb 28, 2013, Apache Flex community releases Flex 4.9.1. This was a minor update to 4.9.0.[12]

Apache Flex 4.10.0

Aug 6, 2013, Apache Flex community releases Flex 4.10.0.[13]

Differences and highlights include:

Apache Flex 4.11.0

Oct 28, 2013, Apache Flex community releases Flex 4.11.0.[14]

Differences and highlights include:

Apache Flex 4.12.0

Mar 10, 2014, Apache Flex community releases Flex 4.12.0.[15]

Differences and highlights include:

Apache Flex 4.12.1

May 3, 2014, Apache Flex community releases Flex 4.12.1[17]

Differences and highlights include:

Apache Flex 4.13.0

Jul 28, 2014, Apache Flex community releases Flex 4.13.0.[18]

Differences and highlights include:

Apache Flex 4.14.0

Jan 28, 2015, Apache Flex community releases Flex 4.14.0

Differences and highlights include:

Apache Flex 4.15.0

Jan 11, 2016, Apache Flex community release Flex 4.15.0[20]

Differences and highlights include:

Related tools

Adobe Flash Catalyst

On October 2, 2007, Adobe announced a new design tool related to Flex codenamed Adobe Thermo. On November 17, 2008 Adobe announced the official name of the product would be Catalyst.[21]

On April 23, 2012, Adobe announced to discontinue the production of Flash Catalyst in order to streamline the product line.[22]

LiveCycle Data Services

Main article: Flex Data Services

LiveCycle Data Services (previously called Flex Data Services) is a server-side complement to the main Flex SDK and Flash Builder IDE and is part of a family of server-based products available from Adobe. Deployed as a Java EE application, LiveCycle Data Services adds the following capabilities to Flex applications:

BlazeDS

Previously available only as part of Adobe LiveCycle Data Services ES, Adobe plans to contribute the BlazeDS technologies to the community under the LGPL v3. BlazeDS gives Adobe developers free access to the remoting and messaging technologies developed by Adobe.

Concurrent with pre-release of BlazeDS, Adobe is publishing the AMF binary data protocol specification, on which the BlazeDS remoting implementation is based, and is attempting to partner with the community to make this protocol available for major server platforms.

Granite Data Services

Main article: Granite data services

Granite Data Services (GraniteDS) is the main open source alternative to Adobe JavaEE server solutions (LCDS and BlazeDS). It is released under the LGPL v2.1 and provides:

Flex and ColdFusion

Flex 2 offers special integration with ColdFusion MX 7. The ColdFusion MX 7.0.2 release adds updated Flash Remoting to support ActionScript 3, a Flex Data Services event gateway, and the Flex Data Services assembler. Flex Builder 2 also adds extensions for ColdFusion providing a set of wizards for RAD Flex development. A subset of Flex 1.5 is also embedded into ColdFusion MX 7 middleware platform, for use in the ColdFusion Flash forms feature. It is possible to use this framework to write rich Internet applications, although its intended purpose is for rich forms only.

Application Frameworks

There are a number of application frameworks available which help the developer solve some common tasks and set up the application structure according to best practices.

Notable sites using Flex

File formats

Main article: FXG

Adobe has been developing a new file format for cross-application use. It has been specifically stated that the first aim was for use with Flex.

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Apache Flex SDK - GitHub". GitHub. Retrieved 2014-06-27.
  2. ↑ "Adobe donates Flex to Apache". Techworld. Retrieved 2011-11-17.
  3. ↑ "Adobe Flex 4.6 * Using Adobe Flex". Help.adobe.com. Retrieved 2013-07-21.
  4. ↑ Krill, Paul. "Adobe pumps up rich Internet apps with Flex 2". NetworkWorld. Retrieved 4 August 2014.
  5. ↑ "Adobe keeps Flash, Flex close to the vest". Zdnet. Archived from the original on 2008-02-07. Retrieved 2008-02-09.
  6. ↑ "Adobe Flash Builder 4: features". Adobe.com. 2009-07-14. Archived from the original on 2010-12-03. Retrieved 2010-12-04.
  7. ↑ Brimelow, Lee (2009-05-15). "A much needed name change (Adobe Flash Builder)". leebrimelow.com. Retrieved 2014-06-27.
  8. ↑ "Adobe Labs - Text Layout Framework". Labs.adobe.com. Archived from the original on 2010-12-04. Retrieved 2010-12-04.
  9. ↑ "Flex: Upgrade details". Adobe. 2009-07-14. Archived from the original on 2010-12-03. Retrieved 2010-12-04.
  10. ↑ "Apache Flex 4.8.0-incubating Released".
  11. ↑ "Apache Flex 4.9.0 Released!".
  12. ↑ "Apache Flex 4.9.1 Released!".
  13. ↑ "Apache Flex 4.10 Released!".
  14. ↑ "Apache Flex 4.11 Released!".
  15. ↑ "Apache Flex 4.12.0 Released!".
  16. ↑ "Apache Flex 4.12.1 Release Notes".
  17. ↑ "Apache Flex 4.12.1 Released!".
  18. ↑ "Apache Flex SDK 4.13.0 released".
  19. ↑ "Apache Flex 4.13 Release Notes".
  20. ↑ "Apache Flex 4.15 Released! : Apache Flex". blogs.apache.org. Retrieved 2016-02-13.
  21. ↑ "Adobe Flash Catalyst".
  22. ↑ "Adobe Flash Catalyst discontinued".
  23. ↑ "Paint Color Visualizer". Sherwin-Williams. 2011-10-17. Retrieved 2013-07-21.
  24. ↑ "CRT App homepage". Moinee Systems. Retrieved 2014-06-27.

External links

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