View source for Apache Flex

{{Short description|Software development kit (SDK) for the development and deployment of rich web applications}}
{{Infobox software
| name = Apache Flex
| logo = Apache Flex logo.svg
| screenshot = 
| caption = 
| author = 
| developer = [[Apache Software Foundation]] and [[Adobe Systems]]
| released = {{Start date and age|2004|06|20}}
| latest release version = 4.16.1
| latest release date = {{Start date and age|2017|11|23}}
| latest preview version = 
| latest preview date = 
| repo = {{URL|https://gitbox.apache.org/repos/asf?p%3Dflex-sdk.git|Flex Repository}}
| programming language = [[ActionScript]], [[Java (programming language)|Java]]<ref name="apache-flex_github">{{cite web|url=https://github.com/apache/flex-sdk|title=Apache Flex SDK - GitHub|publisher=[[GitHub]]|access-date=2014-06-27}}</ref>
| operating system = [[Microsoft Windows|Windows]], [[macOS]], [[Linux]], [[Android (operating system)|Android]], [[iOS]], [[BlackBerry Tablet OS]]
| platform = 
| language = Various between websites
| genre = [[Software development kit]] application
| license = 2012: [[Apache License|Apache-2.0]]<br />2008: [[Mozilla Public License|MPL-1.1]]
| website = {{URL|https://flex.apache.org/|Apache Flex}} and {{URL|www.adobe.com/products/flex.html|Adobe Flex}}
}}
'''Apache Flex''', formerly '''Adobe Flex''', is a [[software development kit]] (SDK) for the development and deployment of cross-platform [[rich web applications]] based on the [[Adobe Flash]] platform. Initially developed by [[Macromedia]] and then acquired by [[Adobe Systems]], Adobe donated Flex to the [[Apache Software Foundation]] in 2011<ref>{{cite web
|url=http://www.techworld.com.au/article/407714/adobe_donates_flex_apache
|title=Adobe donates Flex to Apache
|publisher=[[Techworld]]
|access-date=2011-11-17
}}</ref> and it was promoted to a top-level project in December 2012.

The Flex 3 SDK was released under the [[Mozilla Public License|MPL-1.1]] license in 2008. Consequently, Flex applications can be developed using standard [[Integrated development environment]]s (IDEs), such as [[IntelliJ IDEA]], [[Eclipse (software)|Eclipse]], the [[free and open source software|free and open source]] IDE FlashDevelop, as well as the proprietary [[Adobe Flash Builder]].

In 2014, the Apache Software Foundation started a new project called FlexJS to [[cross-compile]] ActionScript 3 to JavaScript to enable it to run on browsers that do not support Adobe Flash Player and on devices that do not support the Adobe AIR runtime.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.slideshare.net/bigosmallm/flexjs-an-introduction |title=FlexJS - An introduction |date=21 October 2014 |access-date=3 May 2018 |archive-date=16 December 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161216032708/http://www.slideshare.net/bigosmallm/flexjs-an-introduction |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite tweet|number=988051215392149505|user=ApacheFlex|title=Did you know we're creating the...|date=22 April 2018}}</ref> In 2017, FlexJS was renamed to [[Apache Royale]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://discuss.as3lang.org/t/flexjs-is-now-apache-royale/882 |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180504012507/https://discuss.as3lang.org/t/flexjs-is-now-apache-royale/882 |archive-date=2018-05-04 |title=FlexJS is now Apache Royale - Transpiled - AS3Lang Community}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://apache-flex-development.2333347.n4.nabble.com/DISCUSS-Name-of-the-FlexJS-Fork-td64199i80.html#a64338 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180504011538/http://apache-flex-development.2333347.n4.nabble.com/DISCUSS-Name-of-the-FlexJS-Fork-td64199i80.html |archive-date=2018-05-04 |title=Apache Flex Development - [DISCUSS] Name of the FlexJS Fork {{!}} Page 5}}</ref> The Apache Software Foundation describes the current iteration of Apache Royale as an open-source frontend technology that allows a developer to code in ActionScript 3 and MXML and target web, mobile devices and desktop devices on [[Apache Cordova]] all at once.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://royale.apache.org/ |title = Apache Royale™ - Code once. Run everywhere.}}</ref> Apache Royale is currently in beta development stage.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Rovira|first=Carlos|date=2020-05-15|title=Apache Royale v0.9.7 released!|url=https://royale.apache.org/apache-royale-v0-9-7-released/|access-date=2021-02-18|website=Apache Royale|language=en-US}}</ref>

== Overview ==
Flex uses [[MXML]] to define UI [[Layout (computing)|layout]] and other non-visual static aspects, [[ActionScript]] to address dynamic aspects and as code-behind, and requires [[Adobe Integrated Runtime|Adobe AIR]] or [[Adobe Flash Player|Flash Player]] at [[run-time system|runtime]] to run the application.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://help.adobe.com/en_US/flex/using/index.html|title=Adobe Flex 4.6 * Using Adobe Flex|publisher=Help.adobe.com|access-date=2013-07-21}}</ref>

== Versions ==

=== Macromedia Flex 1.0 and 1.5 ===
Macromedia targeted the enterprise application development market with its initial releases of Flex 1.0 and 1.5. The company offered the technology at a price around US$15,000 per [[Central processing unit|CPU]].<ref>{{cite news|last1=Krill|first1=Paul|title=Adobe pumps up rich Internet apps with Flex 2|url=http://www.networkworld.com/article/2304405/software/adobe-pumps-up-rich-internet-apps-with-flex-2.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140810042737/http://www.networkworld.com/article/2304405/software/adobe-pumps-up-rich-internet-apps-with-flex-2.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=August 10, 2014|access-date=4 August 2014|agency=NetworkWorld}}</ref> Required for deployment, the [[Java Platform, Enterprise Edition|Java EE]] application server compiled [[MXML]] and [[ActionScript]] on-the-fly into Flash applications (binary [[SWF]] files). Each server license included 5 licenses for the Flex Builder IDE.

=== Adobe Flex 2 ===
[[File:Adobe Flex 4 icon.png|thumb|Adobe Flex (old icon)]]
Adobe significantly changed the licensing model for the Flex product line with the release of Flex 2. The core Flex 2 SDK, consisting of the command-line compilers and the complete class library of user interface components and utilities, was made available as a free download. Complete Flex applications can be built and deployed solely with the Flex 2 SDK, which contains no limitations or restrictions compared to the same SDK included with the Flex Builder IDE.

Adobe based the new version of Flex Builder on the open source [[Eclipse (software)|Eclipse]] platform. The company released two versions of Flex Builder 2, Standard and Professional. The Professional version includes the Flex Charting Components library.

Enterprise-oriented services remain available through Flex Data Services 2. This server component provides data synchronization, data push, publish-subscribe and automated testing. Unlike Flex 1.0 and 1.5, Flex Data Services is not required for the deployment of Flex applications.

Coinciding with the release of Flex 2, Adobe introduced a new version of the [[ActionScript]] programming language, known as Actionscript 3, reflecting the latest [[ECMAScript]] specification. The use of ActionScript 3 and Flex 2 requires version 9 or later of the Flash Player runtime. Flash Player 9 incorporated a new and more robust virtual machine for running the new ActionScript 3.

Flex was the first Macromedia product to be re-branded under the [[Adobe Systems|Adobe]] name.

=== Adobe Flex 3 ===
On April 26, 2007, Adobe announced their intent to release the Flex 3 SDK (which excludes the Flex Builder IDE and the LiveCycle Data Services) under the terms of the [[Mozilla Public License]].<ref>{{cite web
|url=http://blogs.zdnet.com/Burnette/?p=296
|title=Adobe keeps Flash, Flex close to the vest
|publisher=[[Zdnet]]
|access-date=2008-02-09
| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20080207061131/http://blogs.zdnet.com/Burnette/?p=296| archive-date= 2008-02-07 | url-status= dead}}</ref> 
Adobe released the first beta of Flex 3, codenamed ''Moxie'', in June 2007. Major enhancements include integration with the new versions of Adobe's Creative Suite products, support for [[Adobe Apollo|AIR]] (Adobe's new desktop application runtime), and the addition of profiling and refactoring tools to the Flex Builder IDE.

=== Adobe Flash Builder and Flex 4 ===
Adobe released Flex 4.0 (code named Gumbo) on March 22, 2010.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.adobe.com/products/flashbuilder/ |title=Adobe Flash Builder 4: features |publisher=Adobe.com |date=2009-07-14 |access-date=2010-12-04| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20101203224053/http://www.adobe.com/products/flashbuilder/| archive-date= 2010-12-03 | url-status= live}}</ref> The Flex 4 development environment is called Adobe Flash Builder,<ref name="AFB-Name">{{cite web|url=http://www.leebrimelow.com/a-much-needed-name-change/ |title=A much needed name change (Adobe Flash Builder) |last=Brimelow |first=Lee |publisher=leebrimelow.com |date=2009-05-15 |access-date=2014-06-27 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140821085522/http://www.leebrimelow.com/a-much-needed-name-change/ |archive-date=2014-08-21 }}</ref> formerly known as Adobe Flex Builder.

Some themes that have been mentioned by Adobe and have been incorporated into Flex 4 are as follows:

* Design in Mind: The framework has been designed for continuous collaboration between designers and developers.
* Accelerated Development: Be able to take application development from conception to reality quickly.
* Horizontal Platform Improvements: Compiler performance, language enhancements, BiDirectional components, enhanced text (Flex 4 includes the new Text Layout Framework<ref>{{cite web |url=http://labs.adobe.com/technologies/textlayout/ |title=Adobe Labs - Text Layout Framework |publisher=Labs.adobe.com |access-date=2010-12-04 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101204230652/http://labs.adobe.com/technologies/textlayout/ |archive-date=2010-12-04 |url-status=dead }}</ref>).
* Full Support for Adobe Flash Player 10 and above.
* Broadening Horizons: Finding ways to make a framework lighter, supporting more deployment runtimes, runtime MXML.
* Simpler skinning than the previous versions.
* Integration with Adobe Flash Catalyst.
* Custom templates

Flash Builder is available in two versions: Standard and Premium,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.adobe.com/products/flex/upgrade/ |title=Flex: Upgrade details |publisher=Adobe |date=2009-07-14 |access-date=2010-12-04| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20101203183741/http://www.adobe.com/products/flex/upgrade/| archive-date= 2010-12-03 | url-status= live}}</ref> the premium adds the following features;

* Testing tools
* Memory and performance profilers
* An automated testing harness to connect to all the leading testing tools
* FlexUnit support
* command-line build capability

=== Adobe Flash Builder 4.5 and Flex 4.5 ===
May 3, 2011, Adobe shipped Flash Builder 4.5 copying Flex 4.5 (SDK only) which delivers full support for building Flex and ActionScript applications for Google Android, as well as support for building ActionScript applications for BlackBerry Tablet OS and Apple iOS. An update to Flash Builder 4.5 and Flex 4.5 adds support for building Flex applications for BlackBerry Tablet OS and Apple iOS.

Flex 4.5 SDK delivers many new components and capabilities, along with integrated support in Flash Builder 4.5 and Flash Catalyst CS 5.5. With the Adobe Flex 4.5 SDK which is governed by three main goals:

* Allow developers to use Flex for multiscreen application development
* Further mature the Spark (skinning) architecture and component set which was introduced in Flex 4

=== Adobe Flex 4.6.0 ===
In November 2011, Adobe released Flex SDK update 4.6, with the following changes:

* More Spark mobile components including: SplitViewNavigator, CalloutButton, Callout, SpinnerList, DateSpinner, and ToggleSwitch
* Better performance
* Updated platform support
* Enhanced Tooling – Flash Builder 4.6
* Text Enhancements

=== Apache Flex 4.8.0 - incubating ===
Jul 25, 2012, Apache Flex community releases Flex 4.8.0-incubating and it as a parity release with Adobe Flex 4.6.0. This is the first release under the incubator of the Apache Software Foundation and represents the initial donation of Adobe Flex 4.6 by Adobe System Inc.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://blogs.apache.org/flex/entry/apache_flex_4_8_0|title=Apache Flex 4.8.0-incubating Released|date=25 July 2012 }}</ref>

Differences and highlights include:
* Flex trademark issues are largely cleared up
* Bug-tracking / issue-tracking system (JIRA) transferred from the Adobe bug tracker to Apache bug tracker
* Mustela test suite is donated to Apache

=== Apache Flex 4.9.0 ===
Jan 11, 2013, Apache Flex community releases Flex 4.9.0. This is the first release since Apache Flex became a top level project of the Apache Software Foundation.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://blogs.apache.org/flex/entry/apache_flex_4_9_0|title=Apache Flex 4.9.0 Released!|date=12 January 2013 }}</ref>

Differences and highlights include:
* New locales for Apache Flex including Australian, British, Canadian, Greek, Switzerland (German) and Portuguese
* Apache Flex SDK can be compiled for any version of the Flash Player from 10.2 to 11.5
* New PostCodeFormatter and PostCodeValidator classes for international postcode formatting and validation
* New VectorList and VectorCollection classes for lists and collections of vectors
* New version of the TLF (Text Layout Framework), the TLF 3.0.33 source code is now included as it is now part of the Apache Flex donation
* Can use Java 7 to compile SDK (see README for instructions)
* Many improvements and updates to Mustella tests
* An SDK installer has also been created and is the recommended way of installing the Apache Flex SDK in an IDE
* Various important bug fixes

=== Apache Flex 4.9.1 ===
Feb 28, 2013, Apache Flex community releases Flex 4.9.1. This was a minor update to 4.9.0.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://blogs.apache.org/flex/entry/apache_flex_4_9_1|title=Apache Flex 4.9.1 Released!|date=28 February 2013 }}</ref>

=== Apache Flex 4.10.0 ===
Aug 6, 2013, Apache Flex community releases Flex 4.10.0.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://blogs.apache.org/flex/entry/apache_flex_announces_the_release|title=Apache Flex 4.10 Released!|date=6 August 2013 }}</ref>

Differences and highlights include:
*  Support for latest versions of Flash Player (up to 11.8) and AIR runtimes (up to 3.8)
*  Improved support for older Flash Player versions (down to 10.2)
*  Linux support
*  15 new Spark components
*  Advanced telemetry support
*  Improved international support for dates
*  480 dpi mobile skins
*  Over 200 bugs fixed

=== Apache Flex 4.11.0 ===
Oct 28, 2013, Apache Flex community releases Flex 4.11.0.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://blogs.apache.org/flex/entry/apache_flex_4_11_released|title=Apache Flex 4.11 Released!|date=28 October 2013 }}</ref>

Differences and highlights include:
*  Support for Flash Player 11.9 and AIR runtime 3.9
*  mx:AdvancedDataGrid and mx:DataGrid speed improvements
*  Updated OSMF to latest version
*  mobile datagrid component 
*  120 and 640 dpi mobile skins
*  Desktop callout component
*  Over 50 bugs fixed

=== Apache Flex 4.12.0 ===
Mar 10, 2014, Apache Flex community releases Flex 4.12.0.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://blogs.apache.org/flex/entry/apache_flex_4_12_0|title=Apache Flex 4.12.0 Released!|date=10 March 2014 }}</ref>

Differences and highlights include:
*  Support for Flash Player 12.0 and 13.0 beta and AIR runtime 4.0 and 13.0 beta<ref>{{cite web|url=https://dist.apache.org/repos/dist/release/flex/4.12.1/RELEASE_NOTES |archive-url=https://archive.today/20140627223744/https://dist.apache.org/repos/dist/release/flex/4.12.1/RELEASE_NOTES |url-status=dead |archive-date=June 27, 2014 |title=Apache Flex 4.12.1 Release Notes }}</ref>
*  Improved mobile memory usage/performance
*  Improved iPad and iOS7 support
*  mx:AdvancedDataGrid and mx:DataGrid performance improvements
*  New MaskedTextinput component
*  JSON support for ArrayCollection and ArrayList
*  Over 80 bugs fixed

=== Apache Flex 4.12.1 ===
May 3, 2014, Apache Flex community releases Flex 4.12.1<ref>{{cite web|url=https://blogs.apache.org/flex/entry/apache_flex_4_12_1|title=Apache Flex 4.12.1 Released!|date=3 May 2014 }}</ref>

Differences and highlights include:
*  Support for Flash Player 13.0 and AIR runtime 13.0
*  Fixed Adobe Flash Builder bug, which inserts an incorrect attribute while creating a new project that uses Apache Flex SDK
*  Extended mobile media query support
*  Over 20 bugs fixed

=== Apache Flex 4.13.0 ===
Jul 28, 2014, Apache Flex community releases Flex 4.13.0.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://blogs.apache.org/flex/entry/apache_flex_sdk_4_13|title=Apache Flex SDK 4.13.0 released|date=28 July 2014 }}</ref>

Differences and highlights include:
*  Support for Flash Player 14.0 and AIR runtime 14.0<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.apache.org/dist/flex/4.13.0/RELEASE_NOTES |title=Apache Flex 4.13 Release Notes |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140821002910/http://www.apache.org/dist/flex/4.13.0/RELEASE_NOTES |archive-date=2014-08-21 }}</ref>
*  FDB supports debugging ActionScript Workers
*  percentWidth for GridColumn
*  Add Chinese translations for all the installers of Flex
*  Over 30 bugs fixed

=== Apache Flex 4.14.0 ===
Jan 28, 2015, Apache Flex community releases Flex 4.14.0

Differences and highlights include:
*  iOS 7+ and Android 4.x+ mobile theme support
*  New Spark components skin: FlatSpark
*  Spark RichTextEditor
*  Native support for tables in TLF
*  Promises/A+
*  54 bugs fixed

=== Apache Flex 4.15.0 ===
Jan 11, 2016, Apache Flex community release Flex 4.15.0<ref>{{Cite web|title = Apache Flex 4.15 Released! : Apache Flex|url = https://blogs.apache.org/flex/entry/apache_flex_4_15_released|website = blogs.apache.org| date=12 January 2016 |access-date = 2016-02-13}}</ref>

Differences and highlights include:
* Support for Flash Player 18, 19 and 20
* Support for AIR 18, 19, 20
* 30 reported bug fixes

=== Apache Flex 4.16.0 ===
Mar 14, 2017, Apache Flex community release Flex 4.16.0<ref>{{Cite web|title = Apache Flex 4.16.0 Released! : Apache Flex |date= 14 March 2017|url= https://blogs.apache.org/flex/entry/apache-flex-4-16-0|access-date = 2017-03-14}}</ref>

Differences and highlights include:
* Support for Flash Player 21, 22, 23 and 24
* Support for AIR 21, 22, 23 and 24
* Support for FontAwesome 4.7
* 37 reported bug fixes

== Related tools ==

=== LiveCycle Data Services ===
{{Main|Flex Data Services}}
LiveCycle Data Services (previously called ''Flex Data Services'') is a server-side complement to the main Flex SDK and Flash Builder IDE and is part of a family of server-based products available from Adobe. Deployed as a Java EE application, LiveCycle Data Services adds capabilities to Flex applications.

=== BlazeDS ===
Previously available only as part of Adobe LiveCycle Data Services ES, Adobe plans to contribute the [[BlazeDS]] technologies to the community under the [[GNU Lesser General Public License|LGPL v3]]. BlazeDS gives Adobe developers free access to the remoting and messaging technologies developed by Adobe.

Concurrent with pre-release of BlazeDS, Adobe is publishing the [[Action Message Format|AMF]] binary data protocol specification, on which the BlazeDS remoting implementation is based, and is attempting to partner with the community to make this protocol available for major server platforms.

=== Flex and ColdFusion ===
Flex 2 offers special integration with [[ColdFusion#Rich forms|ColdFusion MX 7]]. The ColdFusion MX 7.0.2 release adds updated Flash Remoting to support ActionScript 3, a Flex Data Services event gateway, and the Flex Data Services assembler. Flex Builder 2 also adds extensions for ColdFusion providing a set of wizards for RAD Flex development. A subset of Flex 1.5 is also embedded into ColdFusion MX 7 middleware platform, for use in the ColdFusion Flash forms feature. It is possible to use this framework to write rich web applications, although its intended purpose is for rich forms only.{{citation needed|date=August 2016}}

=== Application Frameworks ===
{{main|List of Flex frameworks}}
There are a number of application frameworks available which help the developer solve some common tasks and set up the application structure according to best practices.
* Tide, part of the [[Granite data services|Granite Data Services]] platform.
* Swiz
* Parsley
* [[Cairngorm (Flex framework)|Cairngorm]]
* PureMVC
* DropAS3
* Fabrication
* Mate
* RobotLegs

== Notable sites using Flex ==
* [[Sherwin-Williams]] color visualizer<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.sherwin-williams.com/visualizer|title=Paint Color Visualizer|publisher=Sherwin-Williams|date=2011-10-17|access-date=2013-07-21}}</ref>
* [[Yahoo! Messenger release history|Yahoo! Messenger for the Web]]
* [[BBC iPlayer]] desktop downloader
* [[mint.com]]
* ChessCube
* [[BigBlueButton]]
* [[HBO Go]]
* [[VMware]] vSphere Web Client

== See also ==
{{Portal|Free and open-source software}}
* [[FXG]]
* [[List of rich web application frameworks]]

== References ==
{{Reflist|30em}}

== External links ==
*{{Official website}}

{{Adobe Systems}}
{{Apache Software Foundation}}
{{Eclipse plugins}}
{{Rich web applications}}
{{Widget toolkits}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Apache Software Foundation projects|Flex]]
[[Category:Macromedia software|Flex]]
[[Category:Adobe software|Flex]]
[[Category:Adobe Flex| ]]
[[Category:Cross-platform software]]
[[Category:Free integrated development environments]]
[[Category:Free software programmed in Java (programming language)]]
[[Category:Formerly proprietary software]]
[[Category:Rich web application frameworks]]
[[Category:Software development kits]]
[[Category:Software using the Apache license]]
[[Category:2004 software]]