Adobe Flex 3: Training from the Source | Jeff Tapper, Michael Labriola, ...

Adobe Flex 3: Training from the Source | Jeff Tapper, Michael Labriola, ... | Get into Flex in under 40 hours

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Adobe Flex 3: Trai...

	Adobe Flex 3: Training from the Source Jeff Tapper, Michael Labriola, ... Adobe Press, 2008 - 696 pages average customer review:based on 27 reviews view larger image
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highly recommended

Excellent for Flex, AS3 understanding is helpful

I'm a programmer who has been tasked with learning ActionScript and Flex for a new project. I first picked up Foundation ActionScript 3.0 with Flash CS3 and Flex (Foundation) in an effort to learn both. I found that book difficult to digest as someone who didn't have previous experience w/ Flash. I then purchased this book, and it has been immensely helpful. It has lots of concrete examples to aid your understanding of the concepts being taught.

The book is upfront about it not being an intro to ActionScript, however some understanding of ActionScript is helpful. ActionScript and Flex more even more closely linked then ActionScript and Flash, and I don't know that the book would be as helpful to me if I hadn't picked up AS before picking up this book. All of the examples require some use of AS, so if you don't have clue 1 regarding AS, you might be in the dark.

The book can move a bit slow at times, as there is a lot of material to cover. Personally, I didn't mind this because everything that is covered is absolutely relevant to developing Flex applications. The book also indirectly teaches good design methodologies as a result of the order in which the lessons run. This book is an excellent tool.

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Get into Flex in under 40 hours

This book is the perfect option for those curious about Flex and in need of an engaging hand holding session. While completion of this book will not ready the reader for the growing market of high paying flex gigs, it will provide the occasional developer with enough knowledge to start tinkering, and most importantly, feel comfortable in the development environment.

My best advice to the reader completing this course, is to ease through the exercises and realize that with the breadth of flex, there are concepts that you won't understand till later lessons. Simply read, follow instructions, and enjoy the hands on in depth tour of this product.

It would be impossible to cover all of Flex, MXML, and ActionScript in one text, let alone attempt to teach best practices and application design. Given broad subject matter though, it does a great job tapping into many areas. While the book lacks in depth, it gives a good enough overview for doors to open for the curious.

Most of the text is accurate providing clean examples that take the watchful reader from code to compile with no errors. Halfway into the book (starting around Chapter 11), small glitches creep into the material from missing semi-colons to missing starter lesson files. For the apt student, these are overcome with a little active thinking.

I would recommend this book to any entry level RIA developers and would even consider it as a text for intern programs and in-house training.

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Great Adobe Flex 3 book

I love Adobe "Training from the Source" series and has been following them since earlier versions of Flex. It include an easy to follow project and covers many areas of RIA development that I use at work. A great book for anyone interested in developing RIA using Adobe Flex!

Not as beginner friendly as these reviews indicate

I am presently working my way through this book and am not quite ready to do a full review. However, I came across a link that beginners (like me) will find very useful, as the book assumes that readers already are familiar with the basic concepts of an application platform such as Flex Builder.

When you have questions, google "adobe livedocs flex 3 help" (sorry amazon won't let me post a link), pick the first hit and poke around. You'll find everything the authors didn't feel like explaining, ie basic definitions, explanations of concepts, video tutorials and more.

I found the book to be a bit frustrating. Suffice it to say the book is written for experienced programmers already familiar with OOP/Java/XML/etc.

In my search for a book for beginners, I've seen this one strongly recommended: "The Essential Guide to Flex 2 with ActionScript 3.0". I like it so far.

Update: Better yet, try the new book The Essential Guide to Flex 3 (Essential Guide)

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Excellent and great ongoing reference

Excellent book and a great ongoing reference. What it didn't tell me, I've been able to find pretty easily on the web

Only a couple of things could have made this better
1) COLOUR ... I'm willing to pay more for colour text, especially when graphical coding is in place
2) More on AIR Controls
3) More on AS3 Flash libraries

reviews: 1, 2, 3, page 4, 5, 6

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