I'm about to step into the world of using flex for game development, and would like to know if anyone is using it now, and any tips, tricks downfalls for creating games. Its a much better coding IDE but how is it for overall game dev?
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I'm about to step into the world of using flex for game development, and would like to know if anyone is using it now, and any tips, tricks downfalls for creating games. Its a much better coding IDE but how is it for overall game dev?
Excellent for making games, but interface elements you won't have so much luck with. AS3's a real pig about making decent buttons.
I personally would go with FlashDevelop rather than Flex. Does everything Flex does (for free), except it doesn't have trace() (which can be seen as a problem, but you could just make a dynamic text field for that).
Here's how to get your Flash Player 10 on:
http://www.flashdevelop.org/communit...pic.php?t=3039
I guess there are perhaps some misunderstandings here:
do you mean flex as a development tool to code as3 or flex the architecture with a xml alike syntax mergin layout and as3 into 1 code.
I personally dislike the idea of flex, I am a designer and rather build my own GUI stuff rather than depending on comonents. Flash CS3 is the real deal if you want to squize everything out of flash - though a pain in the ass to code with.
That´s where flashdevelop comes in place - its the perfect assist tool to code just like in Flex (the application, not language) while still beeing able to do root stuff in the IDE.
Are you sure you can't trace?
At one point I had traces going into an FD window, using this:
fscommand("trace",varName.toString());
though you could just wrap it to make it simpler to use.
you just need to target the debug flash player to get trace in FD
I was always able to trace in Flex 2,
just use it as you´d use it in Flash before
it could be that you need to unlock some security settings (for example I wasn´t able to load xml files at first and some other nasty stuff perhaps also the trace stuff). There are some disussions on the net that helped me back then, e.gPHP Code:trace("string");
http://www.galaxygoo.org/blogs/2007/...anel_in_f.html
http://techpolesen.blogspot.com/2007...d-logging.html
at first I thought Flex was the only way to program AS3 (and it was in the beginning) but I personally never liked it that well- it felt different it was not flash to me anymore.
Flash develop on the other hand provides extreme flexibility because you are not forced to create projects (something that is a must in Flex) instead it finds it´s way through your classes and I really like that.
Right now my workflow is that I code experimental snippets in the IDE (usually just a few lines) and if it works the way I want it I port it to classes. Though 70% is written directly into classes.
Why would you not use projects? You can setup global classpaths for the stuff you need in all your projects.Quote:
Originally Posted by renderhjs
If you're doing experiments with only one or two classes then I can see why you wouldn't use them but for anything else it takes like 20 seconds to make a new project and your stuff stays organized
I must say I like FlashDevelop more than Flex for writing code because the code completion and small things like that are better.
Flex has the best (and only decent) Flash debugger so that's what I use sometimes.
Flex is a great ide, and if you've used Eclipse for anything before it's a natural progression.
For tracing in Flex I use alcon ( And looking for a link for it, it seems that the new version is out, sweet:
http://blog.hexagonstar.com/alcon3-out-now/ ) as again I used a similar home made thing for as2 so when migrating over I wanted to keep things as familiar as possible.
I know a lot of people prefer FD as it's lightweight in comparison, Eclipse is a big bloaty momma. There is also FDT which is an eclipse plug-in, FDT for as2 is the best editor available, but the new version costs a stupid amount of money and I played with the beta of it before launch and it didn't win me over.
Squize.
I'm tempted to learn flex to keep myself up to date, but to be honest, all the flex work out there is building applications, which I wouldn't enjoy. From talking to flex developers I get the impression that it wouldn't be very suited to games because it's output is bloated and less efficient, which is the price to be paid for rapid application development.
CS3 + FlashDevelop seems to be a winnner for me at the moment, and it's been a great combo to start working in AS3 as well.
I used eclipse-fdt in combination once. I loved FDT, hated eclipse.
I've just realised - there's a standalone version of FDT now. I'm going to give it a whirl and see how it compares.
Flex itself isn't the best for games. The flex framework is quite bulky.
Like a lot of people, I recommend FlashDevelop. If you want help setting it up: http://www.gamepoetry.com/wpress/200...ames-for-free/
Oh by Flex I don't mean the nasty xml with actionscript attached kludge that adobe are pushing, I use it purely for as3.
FDT standalone you say ? Hmmm could be worth a look.
Squize.
I'd guess standalone here means the same standalone as Flex builder, just a special version of EclipseQuote:
Originally Posted by Squize
and that costs alot of money- imo. not worth the money if all you are just interested into AS3 and flash development alone.
I do concur. After getting used to some stuff, I quite like it (most of the time).Quote:
Originally Posted by lesli_felix
I like fdt+eclipse+flash ide or flashdevelop+flash ide most.
Flex is good,too but as render said it comes with lots of other things that i find are a total waste (xml driven RIA!!! creation based on using crappy unflexible components) and those bump up the price considerably so dunno if i´d suggest that while other options are meanwhile so good and way cheaper.
FDT guys also had that option of giving away free licenses for open source projects,not sure if they still have that.
currently I use flashDevelop and the flash IDE, im just hoping to get the same workflow with flex... I really like the debugging in flex andf I have only been using it for some work actionscript projects...
Great discussion so far, really interesting to see the different / same work environments being used there.
One sweet feature of Flex that no one seems to touch upon is the profiler. If you've got the time on a project to use it, it's really sexy.
Squize.
I've been using flash develop and the Flash IDE. I've tried Flex and it seems to be ok, just so used to FD now can't be bothered changing.
I've been reading this thread with Interest. I own both Flash CS3 and Flex Pro. I am having some trouble making the paradigm shift to Flex. I keep hearing about Flash Develop. I am a Mac user. Is there a product like Flash Develop for Mac?
Maybe use FDT in Mac:
http://fdt.powerflasher.com/
or jEdit:
http://www.jedit.org/
I use Flex (not the framework, just the coding environment) to program all of my games and I will NOT go back. It has way too many benefits over using the Flash IDE. Yes there are a few things you have to deal with but the benefits outweigh the downfalls if you ask me.
I created a video about this if you want to learn from my mistakes and get started :P
http://cheezeworld.com/how-to-use-fl...only-projects/
You should check out http://www.brighthub.com/internet/we...les/11010.aspxhttp://www.brighthub.com/internet/we...les/11010.aspx. It shows you how to create a game with Flex in fair detail.
Has anyone tried using MXML for their custom game classes? I'm curious as to whether it's a viable option for behaviour decorating? E.g.
Code:<ns:Runable speed="10" >
<ns:Shootable firepower="25" weapon="Sausage" >
<ns:Hero name="Dr Drillhead The Third" renderer="{ViewFactory}" enterFrame="heartbeat(event)" />
</ns:Shootable>
</ns:Runable>