Flash Programming. Any tips?

Discussion in 'Computer Science & Culture' started by kwhilborn, Nov 24, 2011.

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  1. kwhilborn Banned Banned

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    I'd like to pick up Flash Programming for my websites. I am told it is easy but don't plan on it until after Christmas. Need to see what Santa brings.

    I was thinking of just going to a local college and buying a Actionscript book for $100-$150 and following the course outline at home.

    I have also seen online courses that have video back up.

    I have 2 questions.

    a) Should I learn flash still or has something better come along for tiny quiz type games online?

    and

    b) Without taking a course (I learned PHP/HTML/and Javascript at home), is there any recommendations besides a course?


    Thanks.
     
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  3. Search & Destroy Take one bite at a time Moderator

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    Firstly, learn HTML5. Actionscript will die with Flash, and most people agree that flash has lost the contest to html5.

    Especially for quiz-type games you are far better off going with html5 than flash.

    If you still intend to learn AS a book should suffice - especially if you have good programming knowledge to begin with. If you know OOP, than AS2.0 should not be difficult. Back when I used flash in v.5 it was pretty simple, so I can only imagine it still is.
     
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  5. Stryder Keeper of "good" ideas. Valued Senior Member

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    There are a number of "anti-flash" movements currently occurring suggesting un-installing it all together. Adobe apparently has stopped it's development of flash with various phone platforms suggesting that HTML5 can pretty much do all the things that need to be done.

    Flash is often seen as being a rather larger security hole that is constantly being updated and plugged and likely coming to the end of it's lifecycle.

    Actionscripting itself though is pretty simple, especially if you are actually using a legitimate program to edit it rather than a knock-off. You could probably learn it just through the programs tutorials and help files, if you of course still intend to use it.
     
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  7. kwhilborn Banned Banned

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    Okay.. I see.

    Maybe I'll look at upgrading the HTML

    Currently I have a very complicated picture quiz, where people must vote on selections of up to 70 random pictures that have mouseover capabilities.

    It may not be the most glamorous..

    but this is how complicated my programming got. I guess I should go in there and store the stuff in arrays. It works quickly enough especially if I pre-load all my pictures prior to the quiz.

    It starts out adding to the random number that was pulled out of an array, so I know how many times that number was presented, and then it presents that number with a background answer mouseover.

    Seemed like I was really abusing HTML and PHP for this. I cannot imagine code so complicated for such a simple little quiz.

    I just thought a gaming platform (kinda) like flash might help keep speeds consistent. I will continue to look at other options. One option to speed up the page would be to shorten the amount of pictures, so send people to one file if they are only choosing between 40 pictures which is more common in my case.
     
    Last edited: Nov 25, 2011
  8. Search & Destroy Take one bite at a time Moderator

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    Hey, learn about loops. With a loop you can cut down 70% of your code.

    And flash will slow it down, especially loading big pics. Again HTML5 is a lot faster.

    If you have a big site that loads very large images, so you have to scroll down to see another then you can get a plugin/script for your website that will load the images one by one as-you-see-them, rather than all at once.

    Maybe Google 'best Jquery image plugins" and you might come across it.
     
  9. kwhilborn Banned Banned

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    Thank-you S & D, and thanks all,

    Yeah. I knew I could shorten it a bit with arrays, but at the time I was just happy to get something to work. I have done many web pages, but nothing was as mind boggling as doing this quiz.

    I already preload my pictures, and it does save a lot of time.

    Okay thanks for the information. I have a few ideas on how to speed it up. It actually goes pretty fast, but some clicks seem to hang a bit longer than others.

    Most viewers choose less than 40 pictures to choose from, so I can eliminate much of the code if I send the smaller requests to a different folder. I will also look at arrays/loops to shorten it further.

    Thanks
     
  10. firdroirich A friend of The Friends Registered Senior Member

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  11. river-wind Valued Senior Member

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    the only reason HTML5 hasn't already taken over fully is it's lack of tight DRM control embedded int he spec; something currently being addressed. Flash "programming" is more storyboarding animation + actionscript to make it interactive. HTML5, JQuery, Javascript + XML, are more programming.

    Adobe announced a flash->HTML exporting tool, and there are a few GUI-based HTML 5 layout and animation tools available. It's the emerging area of development for interaction, so absolutely the thing to learn if you're starting now.
     
  12. firdroirich A friend of The Friends Registered Senior Member

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    DRM and ad delivery. Flash has always been about ease to advertise to us.. though JW player seems to have positioned itself to make a lot of money by offering this in it's current HTML5 version
     
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