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AdvancED Flex 3

Shashank Tiwari et al.

 

Created:
23 March 2009
User Level:
Advanced
Products:
Flex

AdvancED Flex 3 excerpt: Integrating via data and media services

So far, you know how to combine Flex and Java using HTTP and web services. The last chapter surveyed a bunch of alternative mechanisms to achieve this. Most of these mechanisms involve loosely coupled text-based data interchange. Most of them interact by pulling data. Only one of them, Hessian, transmits binary data. Only one, Hessian again (with additional infrastructure powered by the new Java IO), allows data push.

Now, we delve into more tightly coupled scenarios and efficient binary data transmission using AMF (Action Message Format). The AMF specification can be accessed online at http://opensource.adobe.com. This chapter looks at both pull- and pushbased interactions—using data services and media servers. Adobe offers two alternatives for data services—the commercial LifeCycle Data Services (LCDS) and the open source BlazeDS—and it offers a suite of products for media servers: Flash Media Server (FMS) products. There are a few open source alternatives to these as well.

Data services architecture: an overview

Figure 7-1. Data services architecture: an overview

In this chapter, I will analyze these products in the context of their applicability to rich, engaging enterprise-grade applications. Functionally they can be divided into the following three topics:

  • Remoting and RPC
  • Messaging and data push
  • Media streaming

Note: Excerpted from AdvancED Flex 3 by Elad Elrom, Jack Herrington, Joshua Mostafa, Shashank Tiwari. Copyright © 2008. Used with permission of friends of ED. For more information about this book, visit friends of Ed.

Prerequisites

Knowledge of Flex.

Requirements

In order to make the most of this article, you need the following software and files:

Flex Builder 3

Sample files:

Read the complete chapter

Chapter 7: Integrating via data and media services (PDF, 1.7M)

About the author

Shashank Tiwari is a Managing Partner & CTO at Treasury of Ideas, a technology driven innovation and value optimization company. As an experienced software developer and architect, he is adept in a multitude of technologies. He is an internationally recognized speaker, author and mentor. As an expert group member on a number of JCP (Java Community Process) specifications he has been actively participating in shaping the future of Java. He is also an Adobe Flex Champion and a common voice in the RIA community. Currently, he passionately builds rich high performance scalable applications and advises many on RIA and SOA adoption. His clients range from large financial service corporations to brilliant startups, whom he helps translate cutting edge ideas into reality. He is also actively engaged in training and mentoring developers and architects in leading edge technology. He is the author of a number of books and articles, including Advanced Flex 3 (Apress, 2008) and Professional BlazeDS (Wiley, 2009). He lives with his wife and two sons in New York. More information about him can be accessed at his website (http://www.shanky.org).