Apache Flex usable?

hydroper

I want to develop a MMO, but I've several problems:

I'm not familiar with Haxe.
Although Feathers UI and OpenFL can be used in ActionScript, the NPM feathersui-openfl package is outdated.
I'm not sure if Apache Flex is relevant today.
I don't want to use Starling and Feathers UI for AS3 because I want to use the classic display list.
HARMAN AIR, for me, unexpectedly added WebSocket support and it's available only under ActionScript 3 APIs (not Haxe ones), which was something I was looking for.

I wish I was fully unaware of ActionScript 3.

Anyways, starting a fresh user interface framework isn't very practical. I've never used Apache Flex, but I'm considering <s>overlaying the Flex SDK into the AIR SDK</s> (oops, overlaying the AIR SDK into the Flex SDK). Do you think it's usable for desktop games?

This is my first time being able to build MXML. It seems to work so far:

<?xml version="1.0"?>
<s:Application xmlns:fx="http://ns.adobe.com/mxml/2009"
    xmlns:mx="library://ns.adobe.com/flex/mx"
    xmlns:s="library://ns.adobe.com/flex/spark">
    <s:layout>
       <s:VerticalLayout/>
    </s:layout>
    <s:Panel title="Hello World">
        <s:Label text="Hello World" fontWeight="bold" fontSize="24"/>
    </s:Panel>
</s:Application>

I'm going to restart my game project and figure out where to start.

joshtynjala

hydroper the NPM feathersui-openfl package is outdated.

I think that you are mistaken. The feathersui-openfl npm package is version 1.2.0, which is the same as the Haxelib package. I have always released updates for feathersui-openfl on both Haxelib and npm at the same time.

However, the openfl npm package was outdated and stuck on version 8.9.6 for a long time. Maybe you are remembering that. However, since OpenFL version 9.3, the openfl npm package has been updated at the same time as the Haxelib package.

hydroper Although Feathers UI and OpenFL can be used in ActionScript

I should probably also mention that every release of Feathers UI for OpenFL includes a .swc file attached to the GitHub release page. This .swc file allows Feathers UI to be used with AS3 and AIR (no Haxe required).

hydroper

joshtynjala Interesting... I ended up with Flex because I was recently getting into MXML. Haxe must have a XML solution too, but I'm not really good with Haxe yet.

After all, I think even that game project isn't easy to go, because of physics 🙁

Murray

joshtynjala I should probably also mention that every release of Feathers UI for OpenFL includes a .swc file attached to the GitHub release page. This .swc file allows Feathers UI to be used with AS3 and AIR (no Haxe required).

That’s really good to know, I thought the AIR side of Feathers was dormant! I was considering updating Feathers recently (I’m using a very old version 😱 ) so I might try the latest OpenFl swc one. Anything to watch out for if using the swc?

Also, I’ve just updated to AIR 50.2 and noticed there’s a class for the safe screen area (avoiding notches and other bits) on mobile - is this something that the latest Feathers works with/can work with?

joshtynjala

Murray nything to watch out for if using the swc?

You should be aware that the OpenFL version of Feathers UI is not designed to be added to the Starling display list, like the original version of Feathers UI was. It is built on the classic display list instead (which is GPU accelerated in OpenFL, unlike Flash), so to use the new components with Starling, you'd need to add them to Starling's native overlay.

If you want components that are part of the Starling display list, you should stick with the original feathersui-starling.

Murray Also, I’ve just updated to AIR 50.2 and noticed there’s a class for the safe screen area (avoiding notches and other bits) on mobile - is this something that the latest Feathers works with/can work with?

Yeah, that's a great new API! However, neither version of Feathers UI is using it yet. The Header component in feathersui-starling has a useExtraPaddingForOSStatusBar style, which is somewhat related, but it doesn't use the safe area API. Instead, it hard-codes certain well-known status bar sizes, since the safe area API was not available in the past.

Murray

joshtynjala If you want components that are part of the Starling display list, you should stick with the original feathersui-starling.

Ah right, I think I'll stick with the original then! Thanks for the info though.

joshtynjala Yeah, that's a great new API! However, neither version of Feathers UI is using it yet. The Header component in feathersui-starling has a useExtraPaddingForOSStatusBar style, which is somewhat related, but it doesn't use the safe area API. Instead, it hard-codes certain well-known status bar sizes, since the safe area API was not available in the past.

Again, thanks for the info - I hadn't seen anything from you about Feathers working with it but thought it was worth asking! I do use the useExtraPaddingForOSStatusBar style. But I got stuck on Feathers version 3.1.2 (7 years old now!) as I think there was a fairly large API change in a more recent version that I didn't have time to sort out... so, to keep that style working, I've got a custom class that's basically the extra padding calculations from the Header.as class that I keep up-to-date with any changes you make to it, plus some of my own stuff (mainly the new iPhone machine IDs). All to keep using 3.1.2 😆

Anyway, sorry for the story that's of little interest to anyone! I'll try out the new safe area stuff at some point but I'm slightly worried that integrating it with Feathers would be above my ability (if it's even possible...?).

hugo

Hi,

What about Apache Royale ?

For me it's the best/only alternative to Apache Flex.
Syntax almost identical, no dependency on AIR.

I'm using it more or less for 3 years now and I built several Desktop (browser) applications, Mobile applications and also PWA (Web App packages for distribution on stores) approved on both Google Play and Apple for iOS.
I was also be able to built a Web Add-In for Microsoft Word.

With a ready to use Apache Royale App, just put in here: https://www.pwabuilder.com and it generates all the icons and the manifest for you and then repackage and Android or iOS package.
In 5 minutes you have both packages without efforts and without bother with specific things for Android and iOS that you don't need, don't want and don't have time for.

pol2095

PWA killed by Apple in UE in next iOS 17.4, thanks Apple.

pol2095

Good news

hydroper

Do you think I can overlay AIR SDK into Royale SDK?

hydroper

I'm changing my game project, but I'm almost about to use Josh's Feathers UI SWC, that is, if I'm able to use AIR 51.0 features with it, including WebSocket.