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Type of bind: Paperback
Dewey Decimal Number: 006.696
EAN num: 9781590598450
ISBN number: 1590598458
Label: friends of ED
Manufacturer: friends of ED
Quantity: 1
Page Count: 640
Printing Date: July 23, 2007
Publishing house: friends of ED
Sale Popularity Level: 45158
Studio: friends of ED
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Product Description:
- Learn object-oriented programming in ActionScript 3.0
- Covers both the Flash and Flex environments
- Includes design patterns, custom frameworks, data binding, and other crucial techniques
Object-oriented programming (OOP) is something that is usually considered a grey art for hardcore programmers, not a topic of conversation for Flash developers. However, when adobe introduced ActionScript 3.0 to the mix, it changed everything. ActionScript 3.0 is much more powerful than previous versions, allowing Flash developers to produce robust object-oriented applications. but with that power comes great responsibility—OOP is now a requirement, rather than optional, and there are new things to learn.
But never fear—this book, based on the ever-popular Object-Oriented ActionScript for Flash 8, provides you all you need to delve into the world of OOP with confidence, whether you are using the Flash IDE, Flex builder, or even command-line tools for your development work.
First, you are taken gently through all the principles of OOP that you need to know, and then given a guide to designing and implementing applications in ActionScript 3.0. Next, we step up a gear, showing you the Flex builder development environment and teaching about creating reusable, extensible component frameworks—manager classes, animation and effects classes, UI widgets, and more. lastly, we look at some more advanced topics such as communication between Flash and the browser and Web services. case studies are included that apply the knowledge presented, giving you real-world projects to learn from and adapt for use in your own work.
Mastering object-oriented programming is essential for modern Flash development, and Object-Oriented ActionScript 3.0 is the only guide you'll need.
In this book you'll learn:
- the essential principles of object-oriented programming, including inheritance, encapsulation, polymorphism, and more
- Valuable lessons on ActionScript 3.0 project planning and programming, including design patterns and source control
- How to create your own extensible, reusable application framework using OOP best practices
- Advanced data integration techniques such as Web services and communication between Flash and the browser
Summary of Contents
- PART ONE: OOP AND ACTIONSCRIPT
- Chapter 1: Introduction to OOP
- Chapter 2: Programming Concepts
- Chapter 3: ActionScript 3.0 Programming
- PART TWO: FLASH OOP GUIDELINES
- Chapter 4: Planning
- Chapter 5: Project Workflow
- Chapter 6: Best Practices
- Chapter 7: Working with Flex 2
- PART THREE: CORE OOP CONCEPTS
- Chapter 8: Encapsulation
- Chapter 9: Classes
- Chapter 10: Inheritance
- Chapter 11: Polymorphism
- Chapter 12: Interfaces
- Chapter 13: Design Patterns
- Chapter 14: Case Study: An OOP Media Player
- PART FOUR: BUILDING AND EXTENDING DYNAMIC FRAMEWORKS
- Chapter 15: Manager Classes
- Chapter 16: UI Widgets
- Chapter 17: OOP Animation and Effects
- PART FIVE: DATA INTEGRATION
- Chapter 18: Exchanging Data Between Components
- Chapter 19: Communication Between Flash and the Browser
- Chapter 20: Server Communication (XML and Web Services)
- Chapter 21: Case Study: Slideshow Engine
User popularity level:
Rated by buyers 
-
I haven't made it all the way through it yet but it's good so far. Mainly shows the differences between AS 1.0 and 3.0 but does point out some changes to 2.0. Over all well written and thorough. Delivered in less than a week! Thanks!
Rated by buyers -
Object-Oriented ActionScript 3.0 takes readers through the best OOP practices and techniques. Next to great code tips an tricks it teaches you how to organize your planning and workflow. Covering the principles of OOP that you need to know, and then given a guide to designing and implementing applications in ActionScript 3.0. Next, we step up a gear, showing you the Flex builder development environment and teaching about creating reusable, extensible component frameworks--manager classes, animation and effects classes, UI widgets, and more. lastly, we look at some more advanced topics such as communication between Flash and the browser and Web services. case studies are included that apply the knowledge presented, giving you real-world projects to learn from and adapt for use in your own work. It is also a useful guide that helps you with the transition from AS 2.0 to AS 3.0
I recommend this book for any programmer who wants to get into AS3 with Flex or for a Flash developer who is looking to take their skill set to the subsequent level
Rated by buyers 
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As someone new to AS 3.0, coming from a designer background and previously using AS 2, I was looking for an explanation of ActionScript 3.0 and an introduction to OOP. I was hoping for simple to understand explanations using "big picture" generalities that then moved down into specifics and offered code to illustrate each point. This book is partially that, but unfortunately it is technically over my head at this point in my development. I will definitely revisit this book after I get more coding experience. That being said, it does an excellent job explaining differences between AS 1 through AS 3, as well as many other concepts. In general, the book's "readability" would be improved if some chapters were in a different order and short, simple projects were added along the way to better illustrate each new concept. I'm thinking specifically of the chapters on Planning, Patterns and Workflow. It isn't until the middle of the book that this begins to happen. I think the book bogs down in detail early on, for example, the chapter on Flex is written with the assumption readers are not only familiar with Flex, but prefer using it over coding directly in the Flash application. Simply stating Flex's advantages immediately and briefly would improve the rest of the chapter. Also, highlighting new blocks of code as they appear would make them stand out immediately. I found myself searching blocks of code to understand the point being made.
Rated by buyers 
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The intended audience is for readers who "...have some previous experience developing in Actionscript...", and that "Some familiarity with the Flash or Flex authoring environments...".
SO - why do we get a whole chapter dedicated to a section on using Flex, but assumes that the reader already knows the Flash IDE?
Furthermore, why is there a whole chapter on coding standards and practices?
These are just two of the wastes of paper, therefore MY MONEY before getting down to the OOP concepts.
If you do buy, watch out for the errata, and the publishers (Friends of Ed) have errors on their reporting page, which is, possibly, the reason there is no corrections sheet for this book
Once we get to the OOP stage, there is a major dearth of answers to the question WHY? I'm a newcomer to true OOP, so this book is not a good way to delve into OOP.
Rated by buyers -
Title: Object-Oriented Actionscript 3.0
Authors: Peter Elst, Sas Jacobs, and Todd Yard
Publishing house: Friends of ED (July 23rd, 2007)
ISBN number: 1590598458
[...]
I figured this book would be subsequent logical step in learning actionscript. I will state this book is not for those who are just beginning actionscript as the depth will make your head spin. If you are just beginning AS I suggest you pick up the Foundation Actionscript for Flash 8 by Friend of Ed or head over LearnFlash to check out their Introduction to Actionscript 3.0 videos. The thing that I looked forward to most about this book is the OOP discussions. As a developer, I am always looking for a better explanation of a very important aspect of development.
The book is divided into five sections. The very first section deals with OOP and Actionscript. It throws in a basic programming concepts and an introduction to Actionscript. Part two deals Flash OOP guidelines. It contains chapters dealing with best practices, planning, and project workflow. They decided to stick a Flex chapter in this section which seemed odd to me. Part three deals with the core OOP concepts such as encapsulation, classes, inheritance, Polymorphism, interfaces, and a section on design patterns. Part four deals with building and extending dynamic frameworks. They talk about manager classes, UI widgets, and OOP animation/effects. The final part deals with data integration. The authors provide details on exchanging data between components, communication with the browser, and various forms of server communication (XML and web Services. The book concludes with an example of a slideshow engine.
The layout is very reminiscent of other books in this series. I wish they would have found a better way to make the code examples stand out from the other text a little better. It would have broken up the monotony. I think the book could have used more color.
What I liked about the book
I thought the authors did a great job of covering OOP concepts. Part three really provides a terrific explanation of the foundation and core fundamentals. I recommend reading part three if you need a refresher on the topic. If you don't get lost in the rhetoric then the case studies are excellent. The Slideshow engine in the final part really brings together the concepts discussed throughout the whole book. I enjoyed the coverage of Flex 2 and its capabilities.
What I didn't like about the book
I did not care for the way the code examples were presented at all. In most cases, it made the book hard to follow and many times I would have to reread the paragraph before the code just to make sense of what they were trying to relay to the reader. I think some of the chapters were very confusing and fuzzy on the topic at hand. I am sure the manager classes discussed in part four are integral part of AS 3.0, but I felt like I was running up hill in quicksand. There are several topics in the book that would have been clearer if they had their own chapter. This being said it would have helped me master the codes examples a bit better if the explanation was a bit clearer. The examples would be easier to follow if they built upon each other as well. I enjoyed the Flex coverage, but it would have been great to have more material relating to Flash.
Conclusion
I don't think this is a horrible book by any means and if were organized clearly it would be a must read. I am hoping they come out with a foundation book on AS 3.0 which will benefit beginners and intermediates as well. If you are well schooled in AS than I imagine you will find this book helpful if you are not then you will be left scratching your head. Personally, I think it time back track and pick up on some things that I must have missed.
{[Jeff Smith]}
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