Hi,

Back again for a little bit. Something has come to my mind that I will think about; frameworks. Now, when I say frameworks you are probably thinking about the flex2 framework right?

No, I am talking about visual frameworks. I have spent awhile studying something called UI design patterns. What are these well, they are in a way the same things OOPers strive for when creating their eloquent reusable masterpeices. There is an interesting parallel we see here; usable.

When studying UI design patterns there are no rules except usability & consistency. One of the things I realize about Flex is the infinate nature of it’s own medium. I can already see the writting on the wall, “Skip Intro” once again. Flex is so powerful and now that the SDK is free, will surely bring the masses in about a year or two.

We all know that when the masses enter a new paradigm fads begin and the end is near for the once fresh new beginning. There is something I am trying to do that will show users and future developers that we are dealing with an OS type of component framework.

I think in the long run, if Flex is viewed as a real application front-end, we will not have the problems as we did with Flash and the ‘Skip Intro’ era. Which was just an actual hinderence and set back for the Flash Player.
The first set of components released by Teoti Graphix will focus on core issues of the application developer. Some of the issues faced by the current Flex components include;

• The total ability to drag and drop;
• DND Controls
• DND Tabs
• DND Tab Panes
• Custom Renderers/Factories in some controls
• DND Containers
• Easier application state management
• Abstract Desktops
• Template Applications
• WorkSpaces (save/load)
• Shared Desktops
• Desktops that allow Flex2 Application sharing loading.
• Desktops that allow History Management
• Window Management
• Full Window resizing
• Cross application DND
• DND Bars(tool bars etc)
• DND DividerBox containers
• Docking and Undocking of WorkSpace panels.
• etc.. do you see where I am going with this?

Well, Ironically, I just listed the functionality of the component set that will be released when Flex2 goes public!

For gigles, Check the DividedBoxFX component that it’s Tabs and TabPane children can actually create new divided boxes. This may make some of you go what is that? Any one that has used Adobe’s Production Studio CS programs will know exactly what I have done. Anybody from Adobe recognize this pattern??

Cross application panel dragging… hmm, sounds good to me

Check these, this is one SMALL part (module) of what Teoti Graphix is currently working on right now.

TabPaneFX child Dragging into a parents DividedBoxFX creating a new DividedBoxFX and TabPaneFX with Tab

DividedBoxFX receiving it’s new top TabPaneFX with Tab

I will leave the implementation out of it but, this is very powerful. Remember, this UI design pattern takes no artistic license away from the designer or developer, Flex would not have it any other way.
Back to the framework side of things. I had a real issue when trying to wrap my head around my new idea. I thought; Adobe is creating a ‘look’ with the way the Application container is, and how Panels and Windows look. This led me to another thought, what is macro to the micro Application?

Without going into detail, it is more of a bending of thought to realize the power of application managemnt. This can be done in different ways. Teoti Graphix, component Illustrator is bringing a whole new level of application management to Flex2 components.

For now, the wheels I ride on suite me fine; It’s my spaceship I am working on right now!

PS, This is no small potatoes, this is a User Interface Application Framework. IE UIAF

Peace, Mike

This entry was posted on Friday, May 12th, 2006 at 7:07 am and is filed under flex2, flex2 projects, as3. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.