One small clarification. ActionScript is a variant off of ECMascript 3 (ES3). ECMAscript 4, which included significant functionality fromActionScript was removed from active standard development in favor of ECMAscript 5, a incremental update to ES3. http://adobe.ly/vO2EI6
ECMA is currently working on the next version of ECMascript. davemc -- Dave McAllister Director, Open Source and Standards Core Services, Experience and Technology Organization Adobe Systems, Inc. W: +1 408-536-3881 GC: +1 650-523-4942 Linux Journal Editorial Adviser, http://www.linuxjournal.com On 12/19/11 10:32 PM, "Alex Harui" <aha...@adobe.com> wrote: >My responses inline. > > >On 12/19/11 3:39 PM, "Raju Bitter" <rajubit...@googlemail.com> wrote: > >> Hi Alex, >> >> the proposal looks very promising. I have a few questions around >> ActionScript, runtime environments for compiled code, HTML5/JavaScript >> cross-compilation support, and target runtime environments listed: >> >> 1) When you speak of ActionScript, is it planned to continue the >> development of the ActionScript language as a standard separate from >> future JavaScript standards? I know that ActionScript 3 is an >> ECMAScript 4 dialect >> (http://www-archive.mozilla.org/projects/tamarin/), but believe it >> would make sense to set the goal to move away from ActionScript 3 in >> favor of a future ECMAScript/JavaScript version (long term goal, of >> course). >This proposal is about the Flex SDK, which is currently written in >ActionScript 3. It is my understanding that a future decision to move >away >from ActionScript 3 would be decided by those contributing to the project. >I would not state it as a goal in this proposal as I don't think there is >a >good alternative at this time. >> >> 2) Flex for desktop / Flash Player >> Since the current version of the compiler "only" compiles to >> ActionScript bytecode, it effectively would mean that an Apache >> Software Foundation project would generate output which - in a desktop >> browser - can only be executed by the proprietary Adobe Flash Player. >> Are there any other ASF projects targeting proprietary runtime >> environments? Wouldn't it be desirable to support an open standards >> based runtime environment as well (Falcon JS)? >It is my understanding that it is up to those contributing to the project, >but I expect there will be work done that explores migration strategies, >including cross-compiling to other runtime environments. >> >> 3) Falcon JS: ActionScript 3 -> JavaScript 1.5 cross-compilation >> I'm aware of the FalconJS research Adobe has started (an ActionScript >> 3 to JavaScript 1.5 cross-compiler, which can be integrated into the >> next version of the Adobe/Apache Flex SDK). Supporting JavaScript >> generation out of ActionScript (including CSS styling) could turn >> Apache Flex into the perfect platform for smooth migration to HTML 5 >> applications in enterprises. FalconJS is not mentioned in the >> proposal, but a blog post of the Adobe Flex Compiler team on Nov 19th >> (http://blogs.adobe.com/flex/2011/11/your-questions-about-flex.html) >> it has been said that Falcon JS would be contributed to the ASF as >> well: >> >>> In addition to contributing the core Flex SDK (including automation >>> and advanced data visualization components), Adobe also plans to >>> donate the following: >>> + Falcon, the next-generation MXML and ActionScript compiler that is >>> currently under development (this will be contributed when >>>complete >>> in 2012) >>> + Falcon JS, an experimental cross-compiler from MXML and >>>ActionScript >>> to HTML and JavaScript. >> >> Is that still the plan, since Falcon JS is not mentioned in the >> proposal? I can imagine that there would be a lot of interest in the >> community to see Falcon JS contributed, even if the the product is not >> feature complete. >The plan is to donate the Flex SDK to Apache, then start the process of >donating other Flex-related projects. Next will probably be BlazeDS. >FalconJS is on the list. Many people believe that the differences between >ActionScript and JavaScript (AS has Dictionary and weak references and >ByteArrays) will make the effort to cross-compile a given Flex app to JS >either impossible, impractical, or non-performant. >> >> 4) iOS, Android, RIM, Windows & OS X support >> In the proposal you state: >>> Apache Flex allows developers to target a variety of platforms, >>>initially >>> Apple iOS, Google Android, RIM BlackBerry, Microsoft Windows, and >>> Mac OS X with a single codebase. >> My understanding of the proposal is, that you are only proposing to >> contribute the Flex SDK, as opposed to the Flex SDK AND the Adobe AIR >> SDK. >> http://www.adobe.com/products/air.html >> The Flex SDK alone doesn't enable developers to compile from >> ActionScript 3 into iOS, Android, RIM, Windows and OS X. That means, >> it would still require the proprietary AIR SDK to support all those >> platforms. Therefore the proposal should mention that developers could >> target a variety of additional platforms, if they choose to download >> the Adobe AIR SDK and runtime. I understand that it might not be >> possible to completely open source the AIR SDK, due to legal issues. >Yes, some other SDKs that are listed as External Dependencies are required >to produce a running Flex application. >> >> 5) PhoneGap / Apache Callback proposal >> Nitobi proposed to contribute PhoneGap to the ASF >> (http://wiki.phonegap.com/w/page/46311152/apache-callback-proposal). >> After that announcement, Nitobi has been acquired by Adobe. >> If Falcon JS will be released, it would be possible to integrate >> Falcon JS compilation with PhoneGap (HTML5/JavaScript based mobile >> apps for a variety of platforms). Even if it is possible to compile >> ActionScript 3 into iOS or Android applications (native), the >> ActionScript 3 -> JavaScript -> PhoneGap approach would be equally >> powerful, and could be completely supported with open source tools. Of >> course, that would depend on the availability of the Falcon JS >> cross-compilation feature. >> >> 7) Adobe Flash runtimes >> http://www.adobe.com/products/flashplatformruntimes.html >> The runtimes currently targeted by the Flex SDK (without Falcon JS) are >> http://www.adobe.com/products/flashplayer.html >> http://www.adobe.com/products/air.html >> I would suggest to add the long-term goal of adding another >> (non-proprietary) runtime to the Flex SDK (e.g. Falcon JS with the >> cross-compiler) >I would hesitate to make that a goal, even a long-term goal. I would >prefer >to focus the project contributors on strategies I think will be more >achievable, but it is my understanding that is up to the project once >established. >> >> 8) Open standards support >> The whole proposal does not mention open standards, JavaScript, or the >> buzz word "HTML5". Again, it might make sense to make support of open >> standards with Adobe Flex a high-level goal. >I'm unclear whether such goals are typically part of these proposals. >We've >heard from the community that a migration strategy is important, but Adobe >has no official recommendation on whether it is cross-compilation, or >porting the code to JavaScript and other open standards, or something else >and hope to create a project within Apache and use the "Apache Way" to >decide. >> >> It's exciting to see Adobe's willingness to contribute Flex to the ASF. >> >> Raju Bitter >> Software Architect & Open Source Evangelist >> >> >>> Hi everyone, >>> >>> I would like to propose Flex to be an Apache Incubator project. >>> >>> Here's a link to the proposal: >>> http://wiki.apache.org/incubator/FlexProposal >>> >>> Thank you, >>> >>> Alex Harui >>> Flex SDK Team >>> Adobe Systems, Inc. >>> http://blogs.adobe.com/aharui >>> >>> >>> --------------------------------------------------------------------- >>> To unsubscribe, e-mail: general-unsubscr...@incubator.apache.org >>> For additional commands, e-mail: general-h...@incubator.apache.org >>> >>> >> >> --------------------------------------------------------------------- >> To unsubscribe, e-mail: general-unsubscr...@incubator.apache.org >> For additional commands, e-mail: general-h...@incubator.apache.org >> > >-- >Alex Harui >Flex SDK Team >Adobe Systems, Inc. >http://blogs.adobe.com/aharui > > >--------------------------------------------------------------------- >To unsubscribe, e-mail: general-unsubscr...@incubator.apache.org >For additional commands, e-mail: general-h...@incubator.apache.org > --------------------------------------------------------------------- To unsubscribe, e-mail: general-unsubscr...@incubator.apache.org For additional commands, e-mail: general-h...@incubator.apache.org
