Apache Flex - Overview

By: Tarun Telang

Agenda− Why Apache Flex− Overview− Where to Use Apache Flex− Architecture− SAP & Apache Flex− Expert Opinion− Rich Internet Applications− Use Cases− What is Apache Flex− Strengths− Platform Interoperability− RoadMap

Why Apache Flex?

• FLEX is a highly productive, free open source framework for building and maintaining expressive web applications that deploy consistently on all major browsers, desktops, and operating systems.

• The FLEX applications can be built using Flex SDK or Adobe Flex Builder 3. It is basically a collection of technologies developed by Adobe which can be used for the development of cross platform Rich Internet Applications (RIA).

• Flex applications can be delivered on the web via the Flash Player or to the desktop via Adobe AIR.

• Apache flex requires server-side technologies like Java, SAP NetWeaver, ASP.NET or PHP to provide it with real-time data.

Overview

Flex architecture contains following components:

•Adobe Flex Builder

•Adobe Live Cycle Data Services ES

•Adobe Flex Charting

•Adobe Flex SDK

•Flex development can be beneficial not only to developers but also to end-users.

•Due to Flex programming model you can get scalable and reliable solutions.

− Even these solutions can be re-designed whenever it is needed.

Where to User Apache Flex ?

Flex can be applied for the following solutions:

•Business systems/Applications

•Standalone custom solutions

•Network, communication and other interactive solutions

•Video and audio messaging solutions/ Collaboration Tools

•CRM and ERP systems

Architecture

SAP & Apache Flex

Development SAP Provides following tools for Apache Flex application development:

− SAP Visual Composer (VC) − SAP Business Objects Xcelsius

Integration− Apache Flex applications built on Adobe Flex Builder can be integrated to

SAP WebDynpro Java & ABAP using SAP Flash Island technology.− Apache Flex applications built on Adobe Flex Builder can be deployed

over SAP NetWeaver Web AS Java and could be made available to end users using SAP NetWeaver Portal (formerly Enterprise Portal).

Expert Opinion

Bruce Eckel, Thinking in Java

“I believe that to solve the user interface problem,

we need the equivalent of a DSL

dedicated to the user experience.

For me, Flash-based technologies like Flex

are the best solution to this problem.

Although amazing things have been accomplished within

the confines of JavaScript, using technologies like

Ajax, JSON, GWT etc., these are nonetheless confines.

We bump up against their limit every day,

and those limits are not going away.”

Rich Internet Application

Use cases for RIA

Introduction

• Platform for building Rich Internet Application

• Eclipse based Integrated Development Environment (IDE).

• Rooted in the Adobe (formerly Macromedia) Flash environment

What is Flex ?

•• Cross platform rich internet applications

•• Open Source SDK, Virtual Machine(VM)

•• Eclipse Plugin Flex Builder

(commercial; free for education customers)

•• Web (Flash Player) / Desktop (AIR) / Mobile (FlashLite)

•• ActionScript and MXML

Strengths of the Flash Platform

Strengths of Flash Platform Large Install base

Platform Incompatibility

Flex Roadmap

Question ??