So big news: the Flex SDK is going open source! I won’t reiterate a lot of information because other blogs will do a better job of it. Rather I thought I’d mention that this isn’t just the framework that’s being opened up. MXMLC (the MXML compiler), ASC (the ActionScript 3 compiler) and the debugger are all being opened as well.
So this might not be immediately obvious, but Flex Builder uses MXMLC for MXML compilation and the debugger for, well, debugging. In the current state of the world third-parties can’t use these technologies in their own tools, limiting the chances of a viable Flex Builder alternative. Honestly, you just don’t have a true IDE without an integrated compiler and debugger…it’s just not useful for serious development. But with MXMLC and the debugger soon to be available under the MPL, other open source ActionScript 3 or Flex IDEs can finally integrate a compiler and debugger. This means more competition for us and personally, I love competition. And it can only help the Flex community: other IDEs mean more people using Flex, and more IDEs keep the Flex Builder team on its toes.
Anyway, I’m excited! Look for the public bugbase and daily builds soon, with more infrastructure going live as we get closer to the end of the year.
There are two videos that you should check out too, both with Ely Greenfield, Flex Architect, and David Wadhwani, vice president of the Flex Product Line. Here they are:
http://www.podtech.net/home/podtech/2826/breaking-news-adobe-flash-flex-goes-open-sourc
http://www.podtech.net/home/podtech/2827/the-architecture-of-flash
if you want competition look no further than http://www.haxe.org, hoping adobe can do better than Nicolas Cannasse, but doubting it.
Cheers
bd
We love competition, and I’m sure we can hold our own
-david
[...] of developers and help spread Flex. Also in that cycle it should make Flex a better product. I like David Zuckerman’s comments about taking on other products that will integrate Flex compilers and compete with the [...]
[...] of developers and help spread Flex. Also in that cycle it should make Flex a better product. I like David Zuckerman’s comments about taking on other products that will integrate Flex compilers and compete with the [...]