The Flex framework provides the declarative language, application services, components, and data connectivity developers need to rapidly build rich Internet applications (RIAs) for the browser or desktop.
Languages
MXML is the language developers use to define the layout, appearance, and behaviors of a Flex application. ActionScript™ 3, an object-oriented language based on industry-standard ECMAScript, is the language that defines the client-side application logic. Your MXML and ActionScript are compiled together into a single SWF file that makes up your Flex application. Because the compiler is available both as a standalone utility in the Flex 3 SDK and as part of Adobe® Flex® Builder™ 3 software, developers can choose to develop in the Eclipse™ based Flex Builder IDE or in an IDE of their choice.
Class library and application services
Flex includes a prebuilt class library and application services that help developers assemble and build RIAs. These services include data binding, drag-and-drop management, the display system that manages the interface layout, the style system that manages the look and feel of interface components, and the effects and animation system that manages motion and transitions.
Components (Enhanced in Flex 3)
The component library provides all of the user interface controls that developers need, from simple buttons, checkboxes, and radio buttons to complex data grids, combo boxes, and rich text editors. Use the provided containers to design complex, adaptive layouts with ease, and use (or modify) the visually stunning skins to achieve an ideal look and feel.
Adobe AIR integration (New in Flex 3)
The Adobe AIR™ runtime extends web applications to the desktop, creating new opportunities for more engaging, higher performing online/offline applications. The Flex framework provides native support for the new AIR APIs, and Flex Builder 3 provides all the tools necessary to build, debug, package, and sign applications built on Adobe AIR.
SWF file size reduction (New in Flex 3)
Greatly reduce the size of your Flex application SWF files. In addition to bytecode optimizations in the Adobe Flex 3 compiler, a new persistent framework caching feature in Adobe Flash® Player software allows the Flex framework to be cached the first time any Flex application is used, ready for reuse with other Flex applications regardless of the domain they come from. This cache is unrelated to the browser cache, so once the Flex framework has been downloaded it will continue to be available to all Flex applications.
Flex Remoting and Messaging (New with Flex 3)
Flex Remoting and Messaging are both now available to all developers through the open source BlazeDS project. Developers can now start using these powerful Java™ server integration features for free, and then subscribe to Adobe LiveCycle® Data Services, Community Edition for certified builds and support, or upgrade to the full LiveCycle Data Services ES edition for a complete server solution.
