Chapter 2. Getting started

This chapter covers

  • Touring the Flex tools
  • Creating your first Flex application
  • Understanding how MXML works
  • Fitting ActionScript into the picture

To begin coding in Flex, you first need to set up a working environment. Flex comes with a free open source SDK that allows you to get started and create Flex applications, but serious developers prefer to use the Eclipse-based Flash Builder IDE.

We’ll show you how to make the most of a limited budget by taking advantage of open source tools, and we’ll spend a good part of this chapter going over the features of Flash Builder. Later, we’ll present how to begin producing Flex applications.

As a Flex developer you’re likely to spend most of your time in the Flash Builder ...

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