Datasheet

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Adobe Flex 2
Runtime compilers
Flex Data Services also provides a runtime compiler. As with JSPs, an MXML le can be
compiled dynamically when its URI is requested. While primarily employed for iterative
development, this capability can also be used to dynamically generate application code at runtime
and provide a just-in-time compiled version of the application. As with other dynamically
compiled pages, like JSP, the initial compilation of an MXML page can take a few seconds.
However, the resulting bytecode is cached by the server so that subsequent requests do not
require recompilation (provided the underlying MXML le has not changed).
Flex Builder
Flex Builder is the Adobe IDE for Flex development. It is built on the open source Eclipse tools
platform
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and can be used either as a standalone product or as a set of plug-ins within an existing
Eclipse installation.
As discussed previously, Flex development can be done with any text editor, but Flex Builder
enables developers to learn Flex quickly and continue working productively by providing a rich
set of code editors, a drag-and-drop user interface assembly, and a powerful interactive debugger.
Code editing
Flex Builder provides built-in code editors for MXML, ActionScript, and CSS. In addition to
code hinting for built-in Flex tags and classes, Flex Builder provides statement completion and
type checking for custom classes and libraries. e built-in incremental compiler also ags
syntax errors and type mismatches as developers work, enabling them to quickly x mistakes
and move on, rather than spending valuable time trying to hunt down problems aer the fact.
Visual layout and skinning
e Flex Builder design view enables developers to quickly assemble and preview Flex application
interfaces. Developers can add custom or built-in components by dragging them from the component
view and then take advantage of snapping and alignment tools to arrange them in the user
interface. ey can also make changes directly in the code and quickly switch to design view for
a high-delity preview of the compiled application. Flex Builder supports all of the layout models
available in MXML, including the box model, absolute positioning, and constraint-based layout.
Flex Builder also makes it easier to customize the appearance of an application. Property editors
enable developers to quickly set the most commonly used properties and preview the results in
design view. In addition, users can easily import graphical assets created in professional design
tools such as Flash or Photoshop for use as icons or skins in Flex applications.
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Eclipse is an open source platform for developing tools. The project is managed by the Eclipse Foundation, an interna-
tional consortium of software vendors (including Adobe) that contribute to the Eclipse projects and set the direction of
the core platform. Besides being the most popular Java IDE on the market, the Eclipse tools platform is also used as the
foundation for products from IBM, SAP, Sybase, and Actuate, among others.
Figure 8: Flex Builder source editor.