Provides overview of Apache Flex Technology, what are its key components, why is it needed and its benefits...

1. Apache
Flex -
Overview
By: Tarun Telang

2. Agenda− Why Apache Flex
− Overview
− Where to Use Apache Flex
− Architecture
− SAP & Apache Flex
− Expert Opinion
− Rich Internet Applications
− Use Cases
− What is Apache Flex
− Strengths
− Platform Interoperability
− RoadMap

3. Why Apache Flex?
• FLEX is a highly productive, free open source framework for
building and maintaining expressive web applications that
deploy consistently on all major browsers, desktops, and
operating systems.
• The FLEX applications can be built using Flex SDK or Adobe
Flex Builder 3. It is basically a collection of technologies
developed by Adobe which can be used for the development of
cross platform Rich Internet Applications (RIA).
• Flex applications can be delivered on the web via the Flash
Player or to the desktop via Adobe AIR.
• Apache flex requires server-side technologies like Java, SAP
NetWeaver, ASP.NET or PHP to provide it with real-time data.

4. Overview
Flex architecture contains following components:
•Adobe Flex Builder
•Adobe Live Cycle Data Services ES
•Adobe Flex Charting
•Adobe Flex SDK
•Flex development can be beneficial not only to developers
but also to end-users.
•Due to Flex programming model you can get scalable and
reliable solutions.
− Even these solutions can be re-designed whenever it is needed.

5. Where to User Apache Flex ?
Flex can be applied for the following solutions:
•Business systems/Applications
•Standalone custom solutions
•Network, communication and other interactive solutions
•Video and audio messaging solutions/ Collaboration Tools
•CRM and ERP systems

6. Architecture

7. SAP & Apache Flex
Development
SAP Provides following tools for Apache Flex application
development:
− SAP Visual Composer (VC)
− SAP Business Objects Xcelsius
Integration
− Apache Flex applications built on Adobe Flex Builder can be integrated to
SAP WebDynpro Java & ABAP using SAP Flash Island technology.
− Apache Flex applications built on Adobe Flex Builder can be deployed
over SAP NetWeaver Web AS Java and could be made available to end
users using SAP NetWeaver Portal (formerly Enterprise Portal).

8. Expert Opinion
Bruce Eckel, Thinking in Java
“I believe that to solve the user interface problem,
we need the equivalent of a DSL
dedicated to the user experience.
For me, Flash-based technologies like Flex
are the best solution to this problem.
Although amazing things have been accomplished within
the confines of JavaScript, using technologies like
Ajax, JSON, GWT etc., these are nonetheless confines.
We bump up against their limit every day,
and those limits are not going away.”

9. Rich Internet Application

10. Use cases for RIA

11. Introduction
• Platform for building
Rich Internet Application
• Eclipse based
Integrated Development
Environment (IDE).
• Rooted in the Adobe
(formerly Macromedia)
Flash environment

12. What is Flex ?
•• Cross platform rich internet applications
•• Open Source SDK, Virtual Machine(VM)
•• Eclipse Plugin Flex Builder
(commercial; free for education customers)
•• Web (Flash Player) / Desktop (AIR) / Mobile
(FlashLite)
•• ActionScript and MXML

13. Strengths of the Flash Platform

14. Strengths of Flash Platform
 Large Install base

15. Platform Incompatibility

16. Flex Roadmap

17. Question ??