By Michael Hurwicz
January 4, 2002 As I write this, in early 2002, a new version of Macromedia Flash is expected within months. So, even though I've seen a couple of great Flash books with 2002 copyrights on them (actually published late in 2001), I'm wondering how many people want to buy a book based on Flash 5, when the next version is just around the corner? So, maybe now is a good time to expand our horizons a bit. Here are three version-neutral ideas for improving our Flash ActionScript skills: | | - Study object-oriented programming (OOP)
| | | Study JavaScriptThis brings a double benefit: - You can call JavaScript functions using the getURL() function in Flash. You become a more powerful ActionScript programmer if you know JavaScript.
- JavaScript and ActionScript are essentially the same language. ActionScript is just adapted to the Flash environment. You can pick up many JavaScript tricks and apply them more or less "as-is" in ActionScript.
There is a lot of good information online about JavaScript. One good place to start is the Netscape developer site. One that will enlighten you about both JavaScript and OOP at the same time is Ryan Frishberg's article at WebmasterBase.com. I don't have an in-depth JavaScript book yet, but I'm going to get O'Reilly's "JavaScript: the Definitive Guide". I've heard good things about it. And I've been mining O'Reilly's "ActionScript: the Definitive Guide," by Colin Moock, for a while now; it's a great book. I'm hoping the JavaScript equivalent measures up. By the way, one of those new books I mentioned, "Flash Super Samurai" (Eric E. Dolecki et al., Macromedia Press, 2002) has a 24-page chapter devoted entirely to JavaScript-Flash interaction. Another one, "Inside Flash" (New Riders, 2002) by Jody Keating, has a 15-page section on getURL(), which includes using getURL() to set a cookie. Study object-oriented programming (OOP). Flash ActionScript is an OOP language. By deepening our understanding of OOP, we can become better ActionScript programmers. Perhaps the most comprehensive and definitive reference for OOP is "Object-Oriented Software Construction," by Bertrand Meyer (Prentice Hall PTR, 2nd edition, 1997). It's not cheap ($70 online). The book is not language-specific, but to the extent that it is written with particular languages in mind, it is oriented toward languages like Ada, C++ and Java. The word "JavaScript" doesn't even appear in the index. "Object-Oriented Software Construction" is a long book: over 1200 pages. It does include the entire hyperlinked text on a CD-ROM, making it easy to use the book as a reference. And it's eminently readable, even entertaining at times. Who can dislike a book on object-oriented programming that starts with a quote from Moliere's "Tartuffe": A modest soul is shocked by objects of such kind
And all the nasty thoughts that they bring to one's mind. Most important, everything you ever wanted to know about OOP but were afraid to ask is in this book. Somewhat less intimidating, however, is "The Object-Oriented Thought Process," by Matt Weisfeld (SAMS, 2000). Like "Object-Oriented Software Construction", "The Object-Oriented Thought Process" is designed to be language-independent. The examples, however, are in Java. It's affordable ($21 online) and tiny by computer book standards (225 pages). A good all-around introduction to the terminology, goals and techniques of OOP. Keating's "Inside Flash" has an excellent 30-page chapter dedicated to the fundamentals of OOP, as well. Study XML Any time invested in studying this increasingly important standard is bound to be well-rewarded. Again, there are lots of good online resources. One good place to start is O'Reilly's XML.com. If you're a newcomer to XML, check out the "Essentials" section. There's also an "Introduction to XML" at Webmonkey. "Flash Super Samurai" has a 68-page chapter devoted to XML, 30 pages of which is an introduction to XML that it is entirely independent of Flash. (Come to think of it, maybe these Flash 5 books do still have some life left in them, especially if you're not planning to upgrade right away.) Best wishes for a Flashy new year! Copyright 2001 Michael Hurwicz, All Rights Reserved | 