I recently acquired this book on my quest to learn some skills in Adobe’s Flash Builder 4. Keep in mind I am new to Flash Builder and Flex in general. So I needed something that would give me a good kick start into the world of code.
The book takes you through a journey of code to build a simple and functional web store.The design and look of the store leaves a bit to be desired, but that wasn’t really the scope of this book. However, it was perfect for me as a beginner as it starts with setting up your first project in a very easy to read step by step format. While the book starts out with very basic stuff that many experienced users may want to skip it does eventually take you into more complex tasks and code. All of the tasks in the book are very well thought out and presented in an easy to follow step by step format.
Some books give you a step by step but never really tell you why you need to do that step. Each step along the way the authors also explains in simple enough English what you are doing and why you are doing the given step. For me anyways, this is a huge plus. I can follow instructions …. but it’s easier to learn if you know why you are doing it as well. And again, although the book follows a step by step approach it is easily used as a reference book as well. Where words themselves were not sufficient the book makes use of well planned screenshots to do the talking as well.
The accompanying CD contains all the sample files you need to be able to complete the tasks starting from anywhere in the book, as well the finished project files for you to compare your code to or even use as a starting point for your own store.
Of all the resources I have come across to date, regardless of media type, this book has simply been the best that I have yet to find. Its really a must have for beginning to intermediate Flex and Flash Builder 4 users!
Volume 1 covers the basics of Flash Builder 4 and Flex, and I understand that there is a Volume 2 in the works that will cover more complex and advanced techniques. If it is anything like volume one, I look to be adding that one to my bookshelf as well.
Author(s): Michael Labriola, Jeff Tapper, and Matthew Boles
Publisher: Adobe Press
ISBN: 978-0-321-660050-3
Publisher Price: $49.99(US)/$59.99(CDN)