Flash Builder 4 and Flex 4 Bible

A complete and thorough reference for developers on the new Flex 4 platform

Create desktop applications that behave identically on Windows, Mac OS X, and Linux with Adobe’s new Flash Builder 4 platform and this in-depth guide. The book’s tutorials and explanations walk you step-by-step through Flash Builder’s new, faster tools; the new framework for generating code; how to connect to popular application servers; upgrading from Flex 3; and much more.

Shows you how to create rich applications for the Web and desktop with the very latest version of Flex, with detailed coverage for both new and veteran Flex application developers
Walks you through Flex basics; upgrading from Flex 3; how to create desktop applications with AIR; and integrating Flex applications with the most popular application servers, including ColdFusion, ASP.NET, and PHP
Includes extensive code samples of common tasks that you can use to jump-start your development projects

Flex your development muscles with the Flex 4 and this comprehensive guide.

Note: CD-ROM/DVD and other supplementary materials are not included as part of eBook file.

Rating: (out of 6 reviews)

List Price: $ 49.99

Price: $ 27.43

Comments

5 responses to “Flash Builder 4 and Flex 4 Bible”

Robert Mirabelle

August 4, 2010

Review by Robert Mirabelle for Flash Builder 4 and Flex 4 Bible
Rating:
This book is very well written and David is clearly an excellent educator, as his videos reveal. I would highly recommend both this book and the video series as a basic introduction to Flash Builder/Flex 4. However, I feel the term ‘Bible’ is a fairly serious misnomer. The book provides an overview, but goes into very little detail on any given subject. Once you start actually using Flex to create a project, you’re going to run into LOTS of questions. How do I clear a form? How do I effectively make multiple HTTPService requests from a single instance of the class? Does a TitleWindow have to be popped up before its public properties and methods are available? How do I create skinnable icon button with no label? What are the rules for use of the various meta tags (Bindable, Embed, etc)? How do I make an MVC app in Flex? How do I create a custom data service?

Flex is a VERY large and deep program and no single volume could possibly hope to cover it completely. I just want you to be prepared to purchase another book soon after reading this one.
David A. Fabris

August 4, 2010

Review by David A. Fabris for Flash Builder 4 and Flex 4 Bible
Rating:
The first question with any learning aid is, does it hit the target, for any Flex developer from first day on the job to a more experienced mid-level Developer the answer is a definite yes. For those moving from a Flash design environment this book will ease you through the transition. If you fancy yourself as a more accomplished flex developer there is probably a few pointers in the book that will jog your memory or make you aware of something you didn’t realise flex could do.

In a tome that has some 1000 pages of information it does well to flow smoothly across the different subject matter that is part of the Flex development environment. From simple form generation to back end database connectivity, its all there. Dozens of example assist, through the various areas discussed, to help in understanding just how it all works. I was happy to see that the examples actually functioned as expected even the back-end ones !!!, this is a pleasant change from sample code in several other books which I am sure worked for the Author just not for the reader.

If you are eager to get into Flex or feel you need a boost to earn that tag ‘Flex Developer’ I would recommend this as a must read. For those that have the skills but find things are taking longer to develop than they should its a handy reference to those pesky little problems that can drive a mid-level developer crazy.
Krzysztof Satola

August 4, 2010

Review by Krzysztof Satola for Flash Builder 4 and Flex 4 Bible
Rating:
I know David Gassner’s, the author of the “Adobe Flash Builder 4 and Flex 4 Bible”, teaching approach from his famous […] courses. He is a great tutor. When I got his new book for review I was very curious if he was as a great book author as an on-line learning presenter. And yes, his new book “Adobe Flash Builder 4 and Flex 4 Bible” is a great resource for every Flex developer. This book covers nearly every aspect of creating Flex application and using it with conjunction with server side technologies like SOAP-Based Web Services, BlazeDS and Java, ColdFusion or PHP. The book consists of five parts: Flex Fundamentials, Designing Flex Applications, Working with Data, Integrating Flex Applications with Application Servers and some misteriously named Additional Subjects including deploying applications with AIR. Each part contains many topics. Most chapters are accompanied by sample Flex applications and other source code that can be downloaded from the […] site.

If you are a junior Flex developer you should read the book from the beginning. If you are extending your skills from Flex 3 to Flex 4 and Flash Builder 4, you may read chapters in any order. Either way the book provides you with valuable and precise information.

The book is very thick. On one hand this is it’s biggest weakness, on the other hand, the material gathered there constituting its size, is very well structured and presented. The book is optimized and organized. I could find any information I needed in just a few seconds skimming pages belonged to a particular chapter. I must say I admire David Gassner for that.

I use this book as a quick off-line reference resource. For more sophisticated topics I use it as a starting point in my research. The book helped me to move from Flex 3 to Flex 4 and let me make a better use either of new Flash Builder 4 functionality and Flex SDK features.

If there were only one book you could choose about Flash Builder 4 and Flex 4 (on beginner to intermediate level), one complete reference covering almost every Flex related aspect, you should pick this book. There is no other choice. Trust me 🙂
Frank Kinser

August 4, 2010

Review by Frank Kinser for Flash Builder 4 and Flex 4 Bible
Rating:
For the beginner, this is a great place to get started. For the experienced Flex developer this is a good reference for review. The sections on working with data and application servers is particularly useful. I also own the previous edition of this book, and in this edition Gassner has made some good improvements.
Campbell S. Rankine

August 4, 2010

Review by Campbell S. Rankine for Flash Builder 4 and Flex 4 Bible
Rating:
This book is the best of the Flex books: better becausse it deals with Flex 4. The content is well explained, and is an obvious first choice of programmers.

Flash Builder 4 and Flex 4 Bible