Getting started

krafty88 · 06-11-2009, 08:20 AM

Greetings. I have been working in the computer industry for a while
now as both a tech and a network admin. I've done some web work and am
familiar with tools like Adobe Dreamweaver, MS Expression Web, know
some HTML, CSS and have a basic understanding of coding methods - but
I am not a coder. My goal is to be able to create from scratch
database driven RIAs and am considering Flex as an environment to work
in. But there are a lot of other things I need to know as well, and
I'm unsure where to start. I believe I'd be using Mysql as the
database of choice - so I know I have to learn some of this. But a
realistic plan moving forward escapes me. I'm just not sure where to
start, what I should be learning first, and where to focus my
attention.
Is Flex a reasonable choice? One of the issues in looking at moving in
the coding area is the number of different platforms available, Ruby
on Rails, Flex/Flash, Javascript, PHP, it is daunting to a non-coder.
I can build a web server, run IIS7 or Apache web server, I have
deployed web based applications, know how to firewall, and even have
setup a database machine and have some experience with database
admin.
But being able to build an interface to place data into a database,
categorize it, build the database, then create an interface to extract
the data in various ways - this I cannot do, and wish to be able to.
It will be my next career path.
The other issue is - Will Flex be around in 5 years. Ruby on rails?
What environment is the least likely to be a flash in the pan and be
gone in a year.
Any input, help, advice would be most appreciated.
Thank you.

**jamiemac2005** · 06-11-2009, 11:16 AM

Hey, as it is i don't think flex is as readily updated as the other possible languages... Nor is the documentation as extensive as some other languages.

If i were doing what you said you wanted to do then i'd probably go about it in PHP using mySQL (as you've mentionned)... Since you have experience with Apache it shouldn't be hard to get to grips with either, and the knowledge of HTML&CSS should help a fair bit.

If you do want to go down that route then the best thing i can advise is using the PHP tutorials here.

Having said that it's worth knowing what your apps are going to focus on? Or what you intend to do with them?

Cheers,
Jamey

krafty88 · 06-11-2009, 11:43 AM

Thanks a lot for the post. Mostly I am interested in building sites to host music, video and pictures. The reason I'm attracted to Flex is because of the interactiviety that can be built into video clips, and the whole Web 2.0 thing. Being able to make a web site that changes according to users needs is very interesting to me. I'm not sure PHP with Mysql can do this. Obviously for storage and recall this will work - but to actually build RIAs, I'm not sure.

I'm going to the tutorials link right now.

Thanks again.

**jamiemac2005** · 06-11-2009, 11:45 AM

Flex does sound like the way you want to go then. Your best bet is to go to adobe's developer center.

Cheers,
Jamey

06-11-2009, 08:20 AM	#1 (permalink)
krafty88 Registered User Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 42 OS: XP	Getting started Greetings. I have been working in the computer industry for a while now as both a tech and a network admin. I've done some web work and am familiar with tools like Adobe Dreamweaver, MS Expression Web, know some HTML, CSS and have a basic understanding of coding methods - but I am not a coder. My goal is to be able to create from scratch database driven RIAs and am considering Flex as an environment to work in. But there are a lot of other things I need to know as well, and I'm unsure where to start. I believe I'd be using Mysql as the database of choice - so I know I have to learn some of this. But a realistic plan moving forward escapes me. I'm just not sure where to start, what I should be learning first, and where to focus my attention. Is Flex a reasonable choice? One of the issues in looking at moving in the coding area is the number of different platforms available, Ruby on Rails, Flex/Flash, Javascript, PHP, it is daunting to a non-coder. I can build a web server, run IIS7 or Apache web server, I have deployed web based applications, know how to firewall, and even have setup a database machine and have some experience with database admin. But being able to build an interface to place data into a database, categorize it, build the database, then create an interface to extract the data in various ways - this I cannot do, and wish to be able to. It will be my next career path. The other issue is - Will Flex be around in 5 years. Ruby on rails? What environment is the least likely to be a flash in the pan and be gone in a year. Any input, help, advice would be most appreciated. Thank you.

06-11-2009, 11:16 AM	#2 (permalink)
jamiemac2005 Design Team Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Coventry, UK Posts: 1,853 OS: Vista, various linux distros	Re: Getting started Hey, as it is i don't think flex is as readily updated as the other possible languages... Nor is the documentation as extensive as some other languages. If i were doing what you said you wanted to do then i'd probably go about it in PHP using mySQL (as you've mentionned)... Since you have experience with Apache it shouldn't be hard to get to grips with either, and the knowledge of HTML&CSS should help a fair bit. If you do want to go down that route then the best thing i can advise is using the PHP tutorials here. Having said that it's worth knowing what your apps are going to focus on? Or what you intend to do with them? Cheers, Jamey __________________ Myspace

06-11-2009, 11:43 AM	#3 (permalink)
krafty88 Registered User Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 42 OS: XP	Re: Getting started Thanks a lot for the post. Mostly I am interested in building sites to host music, video and pictures. The reason I'm attracted to Flex is because of the interactiviety that can be built into video clips, and the whole Web 2.0 thing. Being able to make a web site that changes according to users needs is very interesting to me. I'm not sure PHP with Mysql can do this. Obviously for storage and recall this will work - but to actually build RIAs, I'm not sure. I'm going to the tutorials link right now. Thanks again.

06-11-2009, 11:45 AM	#4 (permalink)
jamiemac2005 Design Team Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Coventry, UK Posts: 1,853 OS: Vista, various linux distros	Re: Getting started Flex does sound like the way you want to go then. Your best bet is to go to adobe's developer center. Cheers, Jamey __________________ Myspace