Flex Introduction Macromedia is recognized as a leader in an emerging RIA market. Today's 98% browser uses Macromedia Flash client software, so almost everyone can use Flash-based RIA. Macromedia Flex is a new server product of Macromedia that enables enterprise application developers to fully access RIA's functionality. Flex has a standard architecture that complements to the current enterprise developers' tools, methods and design patterns.
The main difference between Flex applications and traditional HTML applications is that Flex applications are best suited for client operation, such as field check, data format, classification, filtering, tooltip, synthetic video, behavior, and effects. Flex enables developers to better deliver applications, which allows users to react quickly, smooth transitions in different states and display, and provide no interrupting continuous workflows.
The Flex application framework is shown in the figure above. The Flex application framework consists of MXML, ActionScript 2.0, and Flex class libraries. Developers write Flex applications with MXML and ActionScript 2.0. Using MXML Define Application User Interface Elements, use ActionScript 2.0 to define customer logic and program control. The Flex class library includes Flex components, managers, and behaviors. With the development model based on the Flex component, developers can add pre-built components in the program, create new components, or add pre-built components to composite components.
Here you have focused on MXML. Like HTML, it is a tag language, which describes the user interface that reflects the content and functionality. Unlike HTML, MXML can provide a declaration abstraction to the representation layer logic with user interface and server-side data binding. MXML can completely separate the problem with business logic to achieve the maximum extent to increase the productivity of the developer and the repetition rate of the application.
