Aral Balkan

It's so cool to see OSFlash being embraced by the Flash community. Although the list and site were launched only this Friday, both have been seeing a flurry of activity that reflects the energy and drive of the open source movement.

• Not for the faint of heart, Ralf Bokelberg has created a page on Hacking MTASC -- yes, the compiler!
• Some brief notes over the weekend on Getting started with FAMES. Read these if you're not sure how to setup the various tools that make up FAMES (Note: Reportedly, Flashout doesn't currently work on a Mac but there are other options.)
• Did you know that there's a LiveDocs Browser plugin for Eclipse?

Comments

• I think this success proves the need for alternative RIA development platforms at the moment, where people are insecure about how the merger will affect Flash as the development tool for RIAs and Macromedias future commitment to the community.
  
  The timing is perfect. Great work Aral!

  by Kim Hansen on 2005-05-30 22:07:46

• I totally agree. Also, I think that this kind of response shows that people is willing to take part not only as users but as contributors as well. We are building our developing tools as we want them, making custom apps adapted to the way we use them in everyday's work. simply cool. :)

  by Daniel on 2005-05-30 22:47:38

• Thanks guys! :)
  
  Kim: I don't think people have anything to be insecure about regarding the future of Flash or Macromedia/Adobe's commitment to it. Flash is the main reason for Adobe's purchase of Macromedia and it couldn't have come at a better time: Right before the impending stand-off with Microsoft and Longhorn. But you're right: Open source projects are going to play a vital role in guaranteeing the future of Flash and its legitimacy as *the* Internet application platform today and into the future.
  
  At Mike Chambers' talk at the London MMUG on Thursday, he had a slide devoted to open source projects, listing MTASC, ARP, etc. by name and Mike was telling us how excited Macromedia is to see such projects.
  
  Dani: I absolutely *love* this aspect of open source software: Everyone can contribute some bit -- whether it is a SWF-panel or Eclipse plug-in, etc. and the energy in the community is absolutely contagious. Open source projects and the community are the absolute antithesis of bureaucracy. Things seem to get done almost at the speed of thought :)
  

  by Aral Balkan on 2005-05-30 23:22:55

• Hi Aral,
  We met briefly at londonmmug in the pub. i just wanted to say thanks for setting up osflash.org. Thanks to that, and the lack of wind, i've had a most enthralling day investigating all this new stuff, and got myself set up using FLAMES.
  keith

  by ktec on 2005-05-31 01:24:20

• This rocks Aral.
  if you need any help drop me a line you know where to find me
  Darren

  by Darren @ actionscripts.co.uk on 2005-05-31 14:11:12