Simeon Says

Well I had an ant script working with the Flex 2 alpha, but it seems enough has changed in the new beta that some config options need to change. I dont quite have it working but to find out more…

Previously I used a command in ant that looked similiar to this:
-jar ${basedir}/flex/lib/mxmlc.jar -flexlib ${basedir}/flex/frameworks -file-specs ${basedir}/${fileName}

I wont take credit for this, as i found an example of it on another blog while I was at max. I probably posted before about it. Anyway, to get started I moved the “frameworks” and “lib” folder from the “tools” directory of my Flex Enterprise Services install, into a local directory. In my previous setup I had these 2 folders as well.

Thinking these files might be a drop in replacement, I copied over my build.xml and a test.mxml file. After running my build i found taht -flexlib was not considered a valid option anymore. Removing it caused another error that the compiler couldnt fine my flex-config.xml. The error tells me to run the compiler with -help. In the help on the complier I saw a new option for -load-config which after I added it in place of -flexlib got me to another error.

The compiler was looking for a framework_rb.swc file in and en_EN folder. The path in my flex-config for this file was incorrect so i changed it to ./locale/en_EN/framework_rb.swc which got me a little further.

Now through all of that, i finally get a message in my ant output that I am compiling. And after a very short feeling of accomplishment, I got the error that ended it all for me.

“Error: unable to resolve frame class ‘null’”

Unfortunately, I dont know what this means, and I dont know how to fix it. So If you have a better idea about what this means, please, PLEASE let me know.

As the Mac version of Flex Builder 2 isnt due out until a while after the final draft of the windows version, I need this to make my development environment happy. I feel like i am very close, but i am not sure what the next step needs to be. Oh well. Time for bed anyway. Heres what my command looks like now:

-jar ${basedir}/flex/lib/mxmlc.jar -load-config ${basedir}/flex/frameworks/flex-config.xml -file-specs ${basedir}/${fileName}

Although there is no release for the mac, the enterprise services run great on OSX. I pulled down the installer for linux, and ran the bin on a linux box. I choose the option to deploy on my own j2ee server.

Once I copied the files back to my mac it was just like any other deployment. I created a new server instance in jrun, copied in my flex.war and samples.war. Renamed them to .zip files and expanded them into my server root. Deleted the zip files and started up my jrun instance.

I was pleased to see the output in terminal telling me that all was well. I thought it was also interesting to note that the trial of FES2 expires on May 1,2006. So we have heard that Q2 this year we will see the final draft of Flex 2, so maybe this is also a clue. At least we should see another release before then

Title says it all. Adobe Labs has Flex Builder 2 beta, Enterprise services for linux and windows, and Flash 8.5 alpha 3.

Get them now before the world starts downloading!

Oh, Dear Lord! Again on Mark Anders Blog not only will the Flex 2 SDK be free, but there will be a free version of the Enterprise services!

When it ships, Flex Enterprise Services 2 will be free of charge for use with a limited number of concurrent users on a single, non-clustered server.

This is huge news for those of us that are fringe flexers. This means i can actually develop applications that will use the full power of flex 2. I am so fired up! I cant wait to play more.f

Its true, even you can have it now. Announced today over on Mark Anders blog the Flex 2 Framework will be available for FREE. And not just during the beta. The Flex 2 Framework includes the framework files and the compiler, and provides everything you need to write Flex 2 applications.

Not to be missled however. Flex Builder 2 is not part of the free products. Flex builder 2 is a powerful IDE and greatly eases the development process. And for companies that are making a living on Flex projects, it is well worth the investment. The price point for this is still set at under $1000. Which puts it right on par with the existing Flash MX IDE.

Adobe is commited to helping expand the flash market, and this is a wonderful treat for us developers. So make sure you grab the new downloads and start developing you apps of tommorrow today

Just wanted to through out a reminder that we are having our monthly meeting tomorrow. Sean Corfield will be here from Adobe headquarters in SF giving his presentation on ORM (Object-relational mapping) and Persistence frameworks for CF. That is January 26th. Please check the pdxcfug.org site for details and directions.

I had a real adventure earlier this week when I updated to the newest version of Subversion. As it turned out it broke my Subclipse plugin pretty bad and I couldnt get eclipse to open.

Anyhoo it turns out that the subclipse team has had a release out since november that is compatible with the 1.3 release of Subversion, and had I read the changelog I would have seen that.

But none the less, Subclipse 1.0 RC2 is available now from the main update site. If you are an eclipse and subversion user who is not yet using Subclipse you are doing yourself a disservice. The subclipse team has added some great features to this plugin, some that I have not seen in any other Subversion gui, including visual diffs of tags and branches.

You can install Subclipse in Eclipse by using handy auto-install tools. The subclipse site has great installation instructions with pictures.

I found the International Geek Song on several sites in the last couple days. I have watched it dozens of times and I think its right near the funniest thing I have ever seen. I thought my wife would really enjoy this, because she likes to make fun of me pretty regularly.

She watched it with me while I laughed and when it was over she told me it made her sad. It made her sad because that means there are other girls out there in the world that have to deal with that shit too.

Did anybody else share this video with their spouse and get a similiar reaction? I think we might need to create a suppport group.

Bottom line, dont install subversion 1.3 (new release on 1/6/06) while using subclipse 0.9.3 (current). Doing so will cause eclipse to crash in such a terrible way that it takes down the hole JVM with it. For the full (long and rambling) story please read on.

Along with all the news about new computers and Intel chips in our beloved computers, we also have an update to the os itself. I have been waiting all day for it to show up in software update.

Well it finally has, and I will let you all know if I have any issues after i get it downlaoded.

Update: Install went great. New widgets are there and thats about all I can tell is difference. Which as far as I am concerned is just GREAT!