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HTML and Javascript are object code at last. As far as I can tell, people use Flash because the development tools are fantastic, not because they're married to

by lsb 17y ago

HTML and Javascript are object code at last. As far as I can tell, people use Flash because the development tools are fantastic, not because they're married to the SWF output. This seems like the best of both worlds.

mcav 17y ago
I wouldn't describe the flash IDE as fantastic. The only reason it's passable is because it's really the only game in town. It's slow, its UI could use a lot of cleanup, and its code editor is particularly slow and lacking features (as compared to XCode or Visual Studio). I think people use Flash because it's the best (major) browser-targeted tool that handles animation design decently.
- aaronblohowiak 17y ago
  the IDE isn't fantastic, but Flex is actually one of the nicer UI frameworks. This could get really interesting for developing "thick" clients.
  - camwest 17y ago
    Flex definitely won't output to FXG. FXG is simply a declarative graphics specification. Don't expect ActionScript to port over to JavaScript reliably using this tool.
reitzensteinm 17y ago
Anecdotally at least I use an alternative non Adobe compiler to generate my SWF games. So for me the reach of the Flash player, and by extension the SWF format, is the most important thing. I consider the development tools to be poor if you're primarily writing code (and this includes Flex), but they seem great for editing simple animations visually.
- jxcole 17y ago
  I am a decent coder and I've always been interested in developing games. I am a big fan of your web-site and I think you really know what your doing. I would be really interested in the specifics of what types of development tools you use. Do you think you could provide links? Much appreciated!
  - reitzensteinm 17y ago
    Hey, glad you like my games! I'm using Haxe with FlashDevelop currently, which you can find at: http://haxe.org/ http://haxe.org/ http://www.flashdevelop.org/wikidocs/index.php?title=Main_Page http://www.flashdevelop.org/wikidocs/index.php?title=Main_Pa... Everything else I've written in house, so that's about all there is to it. If you have any further questions, my email is in my profile...

by lsb 17y ago

mcav 17y ago

I wouldn't describe the flash IDE as fantastic. The only reason it's passable is because it's really the only game in town. It's slow, its UI could use a lot of cleanup, and its code editor is particularly slow and lacking features (as compared to XCode or Visual Studio). I think people use Flash because it's the best (major) browser-targeted tool that handles animation design decently.

aaronblohowiak 17y ago
the IDE isn't fantastic, but Flex is actually one of the nicer UI frameworks. This could get really interesting for developing "thick" clients.
- camwest 17y ago
  Flex definitely won't output to FXG. FXG is simply a declarative graphics specification. Don't expect ActionScript to port over to JavaScript reliably using this tool.

reitzensteinm 17y ago

Anecdotally at least I use an alternative non Adobe compiler to generate my SWF games. So for me the reach of the Flash player, and by extension the SWF format, is the most important thing. I consider the development tools to be poor if you're primarily writing code (and this includes Flex), but they seem great for editing simple animations visually.

jxcole 17y ago
I am a decent coder and I've always been interested in developing games. I am a big fan of your web-site and I think you really know what your doing. I would be really interested in the specifics of what types of development tools you use. Do you think you could provide links? Much appreciated!
- reitzensteinm 17y ago
  Hey, glad you like my games! I'm using Haxe with FlashDevelop currently, which you can find at: http://haxe.org/ http://haxe.org/ http://www.flashdevelop.org/wikidocs/index.php?title=Main_Page http://www.flashdevelop.org/wikidocs/index.php?title=Main_Pa... Everything else I've written in house, so that's about all there is to it. If you have any further questions, my email is in my profile...