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From the article: Is Adobe still committed to Flex? Yes. Seems like putting "Flex is dead" in the title is too much editorializing.

sarbogast 15y ago
Of course, they won't say otherwise right away. But they're contributing the Flex SDK to an open source foundation. Knowing that the Flex SDK is already open source, why would they do that if not to let the community decide of the future fate of the technology? And if the community doesn't do anything with it, then so be it? It is slow death, but it is death to me.
- MostAwesomeDude 15y ago
  If you let me pick between Apache and Adobe for stewardship of a project, given track records, I would totally prefer Apache to keep a project alive, maintained, community-driven, and open.
fletchowns 15y ago
In the long-term, we believe HTML5 will be the best technology for enterprise application development. I'd say that is a pretty clear message.
- andrewfelix 15y ago
  Not to mention "...many of the engineers and product managers who worked on Flex SDK will be moving to work on our HTML efforts." I think the post title is pertinent.
suivix 15y ago
It seems that Adobe is shifting most of their resources away from Flex and towards other projects. The same thing happens to obsolete operating systems like Windows XP. They are technically supported, but the company has moved on. I won't comment on the semantics of whether the title is editorializing.
SnowLprd 15y ago
I believe the title is accurate. As with their last post regarding the death of mobile Flash, Adobe seems to have an unfortunate penchant for ambiguous language. Rather than just coming out and saying that they are putting Flex out to pasture and wish it well, they spin the news by reaffirming their commitment to Flex while admitting that the Flex team is moving to HTML-based projects. It's a confusing, seemingly contradictory message. That said, I think it's admirable that Adobe is handing over stewardship of Flex to the Apache Foundation instead of just killing it outright. They should be commended for that, since many other companies seem unwilling to so. But given the long-term trajectory of technology trends, it does indeed seem likely that Flex's days are numbered.
- tambourine_man 15y ago
  Yes, I had not seen your post. Regarding Open Sourcing, it´s also one way to stop support sooner and avoid bad PR.
  - incongruity 15y ago
    Sure, but I think that definitely qualifies as a win/win for those who want to see flex have a future (I'm fairly agnostic on such things, fwiw). Further, I do think it says something that a large corporation, such as Adobe, is willing to open source products it's leaving behind. Shrewd move for them or not, ultimately, if most/all companies did this with the IP that they had EOL'd, I think it'd make a real difference, fostering grass-roots innovation in interesting ways.
- wurka 15y ago
  It is not accurate, it's a lie. The product hasn't been cancelled, the SDK will continue to be developed. Which bit didn't you read?
  - andrewfelix 15y ago
    Perhaps the title should have read "Flex is terminal..." But you'd be splitting hairs. The eventual outcome remains the same.
tambourine_man 15y ago
The problem is not the title, it´s Adobe´s deliberately unclear response. Saying they are still committed to Flex and at the same time state that they will be moving their efforts to HTML5 sounds a mixture of cowardliness and hypocrisy. The truth is that they will support the investment that´s been made in the short-term, but no, they are not committed to the technology anymore.

sarbogast 15y ago

Of course, they won't say otherwise right away. But they're contributing the Flex SDK to an open source foundation. Knowing that the Flex SDK is already open source, why would they do that if not to let the community decide of the future fate of the technology? And if the community doesn't do anything with it, then so be it? It is slow death, but it is death to me.

MostAwesomeDude 15y ago
If you let me pick between Apache and Adobe for stewardship of a project, given track records, I would totally prefer Apache to keep a project alive, maintained, community-driven, and open.

fletchowns 15y ago

In the long-term, we believe HTML5 will be the best technology for enterprise application development. I'd say that is a pretty clear message.

andrewfelix 15y ago
Not to mention "...many of the engineers and product managers who worked on Flex SDK will be moving to work on our HTML efforts." I think the post title is pertinent.

suivix 15y ago

It seems that Adobe is shifting most of their resources away from Flex and towards other projects. The same thing happens to obsolete operating systems like Windows XP. They are technically supported, but the company has moved on. I won't comment on the semantics of whether the title is editorializing.

SnowLprd 15y ago

I believe the title is accurate. As with their last post regarding the death of mobile Flash, Adobe seems to have an unfortunate penchant for ambiguous language. Rather than just coming out and saying that they are putting Flex out to pasture and wish it well, they spin the news by reaffirming their commitment to Flex while admitting that the Flex team is moving to HTML-based projects. It's a confusing, seemingly contradictory message. That said, I think it's admirable that Adobe is handing over stewardship of Flex to the Apache Foundation instead of just killing it outright. They should be commended for that, since many other companies seem unwilling to so. But given the long-term trajectory of technology trends, it does indeed seem likely that Flex's days are numbered.

tambourine_man 15y ago
Yes, I had not seen your post. Regarding Open Sourcing, it´s also one way to stop support sooner and avoid bad PR.
- incongruity 15y ago
  Sure, but I think that definitely qualifies as a win/win for those who want to see flex have a future (I'm fairly agnostic on such things, fwiw). Further, I do think it says something that a large corporation, such as Adobe, is willing to open source products it's leaving behind. Shrewd move for them or not, ultimately, if most/all companies did this with the IP that they had EOL'd, I think it'd make a real difference, fostering grass-roots innovation in interesting ways.
wurka 15y ago
It is not accurate, it's a lie. The product hasn't been cancelled, the SDK will continue to be developed. Which bit didn't you read?
- andrewfelix 15y ago
  Perhaps the title should have read "Flex is terminal..." But you'd be splitting hairs. The eventual outcome remains the same.

tambourine_man 15y ago

The problem is not the title, it´s Adobe´s deliberately unclear response. Saying they are still committed to Flex and at the same time state that they will be moving their efforts to HTML5 sounds a mixture of cowardliness and hypocrisy. The truth is that they will support the investment that´s been made in the short-term, but no, they are not committed to the technology anymore.