The community’s cry for a simple guide that would quickly go over some of the most felt changes from AS2 to AS3 has been heard. Adobe has recently added a new resource to the ActionScript Center called the ActionScript 3 Migration Cookbook.
There you will find a quick introduction to migrating to ActionScript 3.0 from ActionScript 2.0. It is targeted at designers and developers who have some experience scripting content within Adobe Flash CS4 Professional. It does not require an understanding of object-oriented programming.
Along with this resource of common AS2 code into AS3 conversions is a a downloadable PDF version which basically takes this section of the Devent site and dumps it into a portable version. Overall, this is a nice guide that can provide that helping hand during the first stages of the migration over to AS3.
While not all our paths to learning ActionScript 3.0 are the same, the resources that are provided to us are. Some like taking that direct dive into it and learn from their mistakes. Others would prefer to learn through someone else’s following. I have compiled a list of the 10 books that may possibly help you learn and/or expand your knowledge of ActionScript 3.0.
Written for those of you new to ActionScript 3.0, the book describes how ActionScript and Flash work, giving you a clear look into essential topics such as logic, event handling, displaying content, migrating legacy projects to ActionScript 3.0, classes, and much more. You will learn important techniques through hands-on exercises, and then build on those skills as chapters progress.
ActionScript 3.0 is a huge upgrade to Flash’s programming language. The enhancements to ActionScript’s performance, feature set, ease of use, cleanliness, and sophistication are considerable. Essential ActionScript 3.0 focuses on the core language and object-oriented programming, along with the Flash Player API. Essential ActionScript has become the #1 resource for the Flash and ActionScript development community, and the reason is the author, Colin Moock.
Object-oriented programming (OOP) is something that is usually considered a black art for hardcore programmers, not a topic of conversation for Flash developers. However, when adobe introduced ActionScript 3.0 to the mix, it changed everything. ActionScript 3.0 is much more powerful than previous versions, allowing Flash developers to produce robust object-oriented applications.
Now that ActionScript is reengineered from top to bottom as a true object-oriented programming (OOP) language, reusable design patterns are an ideal way to solve common problems in Flash and Flex applications. If you’re an experienced Flash or Flex developer ready to tackle sophisticated programming techniques with ActionScript 3.0, this hands-on introduction to design patterns is the book you need.
This guide is designed specifically to help Flash designers and developers make the leap from ActionScript 2.0 to the new object-oriented ActionScript 3.0 quickly and painlessly. Formatted so you can find any topic easily. ActionScript 3.0 Quick Reference Guide explains: Object-oriented programming (OOP) concepts, such as packages and classes ActionScript 3.0 features and player enhancements that improve performance. Workflow differences between ActionScript 2.0 and ActionScript 3.0 including tools, code editing, component sets,etc.
ActionScript has matured into a full-fledged, object-oriented programming language for creating cutting-edge Web applications, and this comprehensive book is just what you need to succeed. If you want to addinteractivity to Flash, build Flex applications, or work with animation — it’s all here, and more. Packed with clear instruction, step-by-step tutorials, and advanced techniques, this book is your go-to guide to unlock the power of this amazing language. Learn the basics, apply object-oriented programming, and more.
In this essential and timely guide, ActionScript expert Kris Hadlock speaks squarely to the many thousands of ActionScript 2.0 users who need to make the leap right away. The ActionScript Migration Guide covers all of the major changes in ActionScript from version 2 to 3. The book explains the most important and fundamental changes in ActionScript drawing comparisons between the two languages both visually and contextually.
This book covers all the essential techniques from the ground up, allowing you to get up and running quickly and easily. Starting with the fundamentals, youll learn about using ActionScript objects, manipulating sound and video, and harnessing the power of regular expressions and XML. The book concludes with two case studies to consolidate what you’ve learned and to introduce some more advanced techniques.
Each code recipe presents the Problem, Solution, and Discussion of how you can use it in other ways or personalize it for your own needs, and why it works. You can quickly locate the recipe that most closely matches your situation and get the solution without reading the whole book to understand the underlying code. Solutions progress from short recipes for small problems to more complex scripts for thornier riddles, and the discussions offer a deeper analysis for resolving similar issues in the future.
The material inside this book covers everything you need to know to harness the power of ActionScript 3.0. First, all the basics of script-based animation and setting up an ActionScript 3.0 project are covered. An introduction to object-oriented programming follows, with the new syntax, events, and rendering techniques of ActionScript 3.0 explained, giving you the confidence to use the language, whether starting from scratch or moving up from ActionScript 2.0.
The Adobe AIR Bible promises to be a well rounded book on the topic of developing AIR using Flash, Flex, and JavaScript.
Product Description
Adobe AIR is a revolutionary technology that blurs the line between the desktop and the web. The AIR Bible will get developers up and running building simple AIR application, then take them through all aspects of the new API. The authors have a wealth of experience in building Rich Internet Applications using Flex, Flash, HTML, and Ajax. They will bring their experience to the table walking the reader through application programming topics and demystifying the techniques developers use to build the kind of complex application that readers are sure to want to build with this exciting new technology.
Looking to get serious with Adobe AIR, what a better way to learn from the experts available from the AIR community. Here is compiled list of new Adobe AIR books,written from the top experts in community, that will get you up to speed on the new technology. Enjoy!
If there is a book I am forgetting, I would be glad to know what else is available.