9 Replies Latest reply: Mar 16, 2011 11:30 AM by UbuntuPenguin RSS

    Why use Flash Builder 4 when I can use Flash Professional?

    The Jayster Community Member
    The Jayster Mar 13, 2011 3:06 PM

      Thought I'd go right to the Flex guys for an answer here. I would LOVE to invest the time to learn Flash Builder 4, but I don't know WHY I would do this. But I see so many job posts requiring experience in it etc., perhaps that is the reason alone?? For 9 years I have used Flash Pro to build online learning and in-class training tools. I work with a few other very knowledgable ActionScript programmers, and they also use/prefer Flash Pro. I am constantly reading posts however that claim Flash Pro is for games, video interfaces, and banner ads, while Flex is better for RIAs. Please convince me of this, because based on my current knowledge, I don't agree. If am not mistaken I can build anything a Flex guy can build, but using Flash Pro. The advantage I see for Flash Pro is that I can also easily and conveniently animate and build custom assets that not only enhance the experience, but match perfectly the look/feel that my client is going for. I can't understand or grasp the use of drag-n-drop buttons for example. Who is contented with that? And doesn't overuse of pre-built components add unnecessary file size to the swf? I can make lean, custom scripted, and custom looking assets in leu of dropping huge components. And, I can drop huge compnents and data grids and stuff if need be. I just don't understand why I would use a complex workflow between the two apps to achieve something that is easily done in one. if I need external control of the application, I can use XML files for color and links and content and everything, and I can use external as files for big projects... I guess I just don't get it.

       

      I'd appreciate some clarity. And please do go on a nerd-tangent (just being playful) about the code editors. I don't get that whole issue. FP's editor is just fine, and if for some reason I can't fathom, I need to use Flash Builder's, it's a just few button clicks when I setup up my FLA. Remeber... I WANT to learn this app, but I won't if there is really no need.

       

      Thanks guys!

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        • 1. Re: Why use Flash Builder 4 when I can use Flash Professional?
          CleanCoder Community Member
          CleanCoder Mar 13, 2011 4:02 PM (in response to The Jayster)

          Just my 2 cents...

           

          FlashBuilder provides you with an SDK to make using the Flex framework easier. The base class of all Flex apps is "Application.as", which, in my opinion, pretty much sums up what Flex is intended for, building scalable apps. Flex includes prebuilt components and classes that handle typical use scenarios, and is essentially a library of AS3 classes. I would say that Flex is definetely more standardized and robust than any current pure AS3 framework, and essential if you are collaborating with other developers on a mid-size to large project. Otherwise if you are comfortable rolling your own AS3 classes and dont have a need to use a standardized framework, stick with FlashPro.

          • 2. Re: Why use Flash Builder 4 when I can use Flash Professional?
            UbuntuPenguin Community Member
            UbuntuPenguin Mar 13, 2011 4:03 PM (in response to The Jayster)

            Why did you ask this question when you answered it yourself

            Flex is better for RIAs

             

             

            Yes you can build anything I can build using Flex, but it will take you longer.  Not to mention. I can do unit-testing out of the box with my stuff.  The reason you don't feel you need to learn Flashbuilder is because you don't make RIA's.  Plain and simple.  In your post you said you don't need drag and drop, you don't need preconfigured components, you use static server files instead of web services, you don't need refactoring.  In short you are right, you don't need Flexbuilder in the least bit.

            • 3. Re: Why use Flash Builder 4 when I can use Flash Professional?
              pauland Community Member
              pauland Mar 13, 2011 4:04 PM (in response to CleanCoder)

              Flex is more about building applications, though people use it for all sorts.

               

              Download the trial, follow Flex in a week and if it doesn't click with you, stick with Flash.

              • 4. Re: Why use Flash Builder 4 when I can use Flash Professional?
                The Jayster Community Member
                The Jayster Mar 14, 2011 12:41 PM (in response to The Jayster)

                Thanks everyone for your time and good answers! I appreciate it. I have Flash Builder 4 and signed up for the Lynda.com Essential Training series. I do see now how it is great for building RIAs. Correct, I do not currently build RIAs (I do online interactive training for biotech), but want to start! Not so stoked on efficiency of building branded/customized stuff though. Custom skinning sounds very time consuming to me. But, standardized stuff is cool too, if done right. Seems so odd to not have graphical and animation tools at my fingertips too, feels very disjointed/specialized to me and would take some getting used to. I am also a bit bummed about how ginormous the swfs seems to be. The Flash guys I know are all so freakish about file sizes and elegant code etc.

                 

                BUT! I love how simple MXML makes generating actionscript, and that you can still Actionscript all day long if ya want. And WOW.. the debugger is pretty sweet, I must admit. Tracking variables and expressions etc... that's pretty damn cool. I can see how MXML speeds things up big time for web services work etc mentioned above. Great for enormous corporate projects I would assume. I get it!

                 

                Here's my conclusion. Love it, like it, or hate it... doesn't really matter much. If I want to break into working on RIA stuff, looks like Adobe and the community at large have pretty much squeezed Flash Pro right out of the conversation for whateve reason. Can't even find RIA and Flash Pro in the same article these days. I'll need to know Flash Builder if I am to share projects and work with these (you) guys . No doubt about it. I am sooo sick of developing eLearning lol. My developer (if you can call it that) side is screaming out for more attention! Now... guess I'll open another discussion called "how the heck do i get work in RIAs?" lol

                 

                Thanks again you guys!

                • 5. Re: Why use Flash Builder 4 when I can use Flash Professional?
                  learner_doug Community Member
                  learner_doug Mar 14, 2011 1:43 PM (in response to The Jayster)

                  I'm an eLearning developer as well.  I use a variety of development including Flash Pro,

                  HTML-based, LMS-based (Moodle).  I like Flash Builder when workinig with a

                  large number of graphics, videos and text/graphic pages.  It helps me organize the work better.

                  Probably because I'm not naturally well-organized.  I like some of the built-in classes as well and it is very easy to extent the existing classes into subclasses for customization. 

                  But because I do not build traditional RIAs (like you, mind are eLearning), I find myself trying to force Flex to do things that Flash is better at. 

                  Doug

                  • 6. Re: Why use Flash Builder 4 when I can use Flash Professional?
                    The Jayster Community Member
                    The Jayster Mar 16, 2011 9:45 AM (in response to learner_doug)

                    Thanks for your comments Doug! Yeah, I couldn't fathom using it for building training modules. I use a custom-built/designed flash shell that loads external swfs (the pages of the modules) and it all sets it up (the module menu and associated voiceover files etc) using an XML file. Super clean and quick to update etc. Most of the stuff I get is just thrown at me via awful PowerPoints and horrific PDFs, and then I reorder/rewrite it and start crankn it out for the shell, adding iStock imagery and supplied videos etc..., build in some interactive reinforcement/memory tools, mini-quizzes to tell them its okay to proceed... thats it basically.  My process works best in Flash Pro for sure. But I WANT to build RIAs. Sounds like the community has entirely embraced Flex for that. I am also learning ColdFusion for the heck of it. I get a little miffed at the whole "Flash is for games" crapola though, usually stated by some flex dude, but... whadda ya gunna do. Different opinions, and I don't know Flex very well, so.... Strict programmers are typically far less aesthetically motivated in my experience though, so, this may be the disconnect I am feeling with Flex. I'll learn it for sure though. Its definately a big deal. Maybe I'll love it (for RIAs)

                     

                    Anyhow, I ramble as always. Thanks for your insights!

                    • 7. Re: Why use Flash Builder 4 when I can use Flash Professional?
                      The Jayster Community Member
                      The Jayster Mar 16, 2011 9:58 AM (in response to UbuntuPenguin)

                      Thanks for the insight Unbuntu! Though you read my post incorrectly (I did not say Flex is better for RIAs, I said I read that all the time), you made a good clear point regarding the fact that I do not access web services all the time. I do communicate between my swfs and ASP.net and  Learning Management Systems (LMS) and so forth, sending variables, form data, scores etc... but nothing beyond that. But, I am asking if I need to learn Flex to build RIAs here (not for my current career), or if Flash Pro is just as good. Apparently it is Flex either way, because everyone uses it for RIAs now, and Adobe is definately pushing it imo. I'll assume it is a better tool for that specific realm, and I'll learn it. MXML is definatley a nice shortcut to some complicated coding, and the standardized look/feel of flex swfs could offer some nice solutions if done right. The prebuilt component library is pretty huge (though those things weigh so much it's killing me), and the Eclipse development environment is growing on me. Really really cool (debugger is crazy!) I use it in my ColdFusion courses too... really neat.

                       

                      Thanks again!

                      • 8. Re: Why use Flash Builder 4 when I can use Flash Professional?
                        learner_doug Community Member
                        learner_doug Mar 16, 2011 10:33 AM (in response to The Jayster)

                        I do a very similar thing:  Take PDFs, then make Captive movies and subsequently enhanced them with iStock images (avatars), self-created PhotoShop or Fireworks graphics.  I use Flex to show business-process animations and provide a menu for learners to select and view the videos. 

                         

                        Thanks for sharing your work process. 

                         

                        Doug

                        • 9. Re: Why use Flash Builder 4 when I can use Flash Professional?
                          UbuntuPenguin Community Member
                          UbuntuPenguin Mar 16, 2011 11:30 AM (in response to The Jayster)

                          You're welcome.  And don't be afraid to explore some of the other offerings in the Flex world such as micro-architectures, video and sound and custom components.  There are some really nice custom components out there, but I can't grasp the graphics world for the life of me.