Page 1 of 4 Recently, I spoke at a CFUG in Syracuse about developing Macromedia Central applications. I explained how to install the Central SDK and set up the most efficient development environment. In addition, I demonstrated how easy it is to create a simple Central app that queries a web service, and displays the results in the MDataGrid component.
At first, there was some resistance to Central, largely because of the licensing requirements. However, once the developers understood the Central workflow, and learned about features like LCService, LCDataProvider, agents, notices, and pods, some enthusiasm started to build. Hopefully, this article will convert some of you non-believers out there.
Chances are, you already know what Macromedia Central is and have tinkered with some of its sample applications. If you haven't, download Macromedia Central and install it. In essence, Central is a desktop repository for Flash applications, and you author Central apps using the Flash IDE (MX or 2004). With Central, you can install multiple Flash apps into one centralized location. To find more Central applications, install the Freeware Finder or use the built-in App Finder.
Figure 1 The Central Shell, Agent, Console,
and Pod objects (larger view)
As a developer, you should know that Central has built-in support for web services, XML, and Flash Remoting. A frequent question among Flash developers is "Why should I develop for Central when I can develop for Flash and use Screenweaver or SWF Studio to distribute my applications?" This is a valid point. However, Macromedia is already planning to incorporate some of these third-party program features into the next version of Central — most notably, file system access. In addition, the next version of Central will have built-in support for AOL instant messaging (the AOL Presence SDK will be released in early 2004). The tradeoff with Central is that you have to pay a licensing fee, but in return your application is listed in App Finder, which is great exposure for your product.
Still not convinced? Here's a rundown of the best (and worst) of Central:
| What's Hot | What's Not |
|---|---|
|
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As you can see, the pros far outweigh the cons, and Macromedia is already planning to add Flash Player 7/ActionScript 2.0 support in the next release. In addition, the licensing program may undergo some revisions before Central is released to the general public (as of this writing, the current version is the Developer Release).
Keywords
macromedia central, debug panel, MDataGrid, web service, license programs, primalscript, api, sdk, remoting tester, components, flash mx 2004, actionscript
