Dear Google & Yahoo!,
In recent months both of you have released wonderful ActionScript libraries that allow us developers to access your mapping services. To have the same power (questionably more) as JavaScript developers is totally freakin' radical. What more can us developers ask for when giant companies give us code for free to use their amazing services...well...for free! Unbelievable and inspiring.
However, while I am totally stoked to have this at my disposal, I am also very annoyed about something. What bothers me even more is that I can't figure out what this feeling is rooted in. Is it because I'm impatient? Is it because I'm concerned for the industry? Am I feeling forgotten about? I'm not so sure yet. But I do know one thing, and that is both mapping API's you have released are described as being for Flash. And I'm sure I'm not the only person that saw this and got excited, only to find out that the API's really are only meant to be used with Flex. Sure, Flex is Flash you say! But Flash is also not Flex.
Ok, so whats the big deal you ask? Flex is great, right? Right! So don't get me wrong, I freakin' love Flex. But I also love plain old Flash too! Don't you? Ok, so maybe you don't, but a lot of people do. And ok, so you say there's at least one way to "hack" the SWC file to get it to work in a non-Flex SWF file. And I quote "hack" because I felt really dirty doing it, even though it was someone at Yahoo! who explained how to do it. In fact, I did this on a recent project at work. It came out pretty good, but c'mon, what a joke! That's no way for a developer to have to write code!
What is the reason for this? Yahoo!, I know for sure you're not utilizing the Flex framework for anything in your API because it works if you "hack" it into a non-Flex SWF. Google, I'm only assuming the same is true for your API. So this begs a question that I'm guessing anyone can safely formulate themselves.
Certainly there are probably other reasons you've only released a Flex SWC, but what the hell are they? Lack of resources? I doubt that. More code security? ActionScript can't be more sensitive than JavaScript. Laziness? Possible. Apathy? Who knows. Maybe I'm just a whining minority in that I'm primarily a FlashDevelop/CS3 user. I hardly ever write code in CS3, but I love the ability to create custom artwork for particular views, components, etc. and write my hinted, OOP code in FlashDevelop. Will I ever see the day that I can easily use your map API's without having to use the Flex SDK or Flex Builder?
But I digress. Hopefully I'm speaking for some other developers out there, and I'll certainly live if this never happens. But what gives guys?
Annoyed developer,
Matt
6 Responses to “To Google & Yahoo!: Please Distribute Map APIs for Developers Who Dont Use the Flex SDK!”
By Josh Tynjala on May 15, 2008 | Reply
Flash CS3 doesn’t support using plain old simple code SWCs. It sucks. The developer of the Yahoo! Maps API (and most of us on the Flash Platform team) didn’t know that until it was too late. Since we can’t distribute the source, we need to build a specific component for Flash CS3, and that has some interesting and unexpected requirements. It’s coming, but due to lack of resources (yes, while doubtful to you, it’s true), it’s taking longer than we’d hope.
Josh Tynjala
Yahoo!
By Bryan Bartow on May 15, 2008 | Reply
While the only “supported” use of a SWC is through Flex Builder, it is not necessary to use the Flex framework in your project. I built a pure Actionscript project with the Google Maps SWC last night and it worked just fine. Although you already know this, your post is unclear and may be misleading to those who do not differentiate between the Flex framework and Flex Builder.
By Matt on May 15, 2008 | Reply
Josh: I’ll be waiting patiently! I know you mentioned to me before that you guys are working on one, I’ve just gotten impatient. Don’t take offense to my rant.
Bryan: I’m aware you can go AS only, and I failed to be clear that my gripe applies specifically to the SDK, not so much Flex Builder or the Flex framework. I’ve made an edit or two that hopefully clears that up. Thanks!
By Josh Chernoff on May 15, 2008 | Reply
Matt thank you for saying what I could not in such a kind tone. I will admit I have made plenty of rants on this topic and I should be more courteous about all the great work google and yahoo have done for us.
I think the think that “offends me” about this last API by google is their statements about flex vs flash.
::Quote from google::
“Some developers author purely within the Flash application to create and arrange content, and add ActionScript within that framework. Other developers use a full-featured IDE such as Adobe® Flex® Builder to create robust applications with heavy use of ActionScript.”
I’m sorry but that statement offends me. Since when is flash incapable of being a full-featured IDE.
I dislike how the flex community is driving the AS3 community away from the flash IDE. And I believe that is the bottom line for the choice in Flex vs Flash with Yahoo and Google. It’s because flex is what they developed it in and flex is what they want to promote!
Josh Tynjala - I know you would argue that but can you say your flash team developed the last version of your map API in the flash IDE? and since the core UILoader component differs from each other you have to make a choice of making a component for flash or flex. They both picked flex in the end.
The thing that bothers me the most is the capability’s are far great with the level of things that you could do with the API’s had they been made with the Flash Framework. It sad because it just came down to it’s easier to develop in flex.
By Matt on May 15, 2008 | Reply
Josh C: I too am worried about whats driving the AS3 community. Its still too early to point the finger, but I am definitely worried that. Adobe should really update CS3 or the next version of the Flash IDE to be able to attach SWC libraries, created with the Flex SDK, to an FLA. These libraries would of course need to not be dependent on the Flex framework. I think this would immediately solve our problem.
By Stephen Koch on Jun 10, 2008 | Reply
@Bryan B
Can you provide a simple example or some direction for compiling a simple map from Flash CS3?
I have placed the Google Maps SWC in the proper location however cannot simply:
import com.google.maps.Map;
trace(Map)
While compiling a swf from command line using Flex 3 SDK is nice, it would be easier and less cumbersome (for me) to be able to write my packages/classes and compile directly from Flash!
Thanks.