[Xerte] Xerte 3.0 Beta

Mon Oct 11 10:12:37 BST 2010

This is the change I alluded to. Changing the software to compile swfs rather than interpret .xml at runtime to create the content means changing the file format: there are a load of good reasons to do this, and some recent changes to Air that made it possible:

-          Air 2.0 allows communication to native processes. This means Xerte can communicate directly with fcsh.exe in the FlexSDK to compile the swfs, and also to the debugger. This wasn't possible with Zinc or older versions of Air.

-          The interpreted code was slow. Compiled swfs are much much much faster.

-          Interpreted code still didn't allow true functions to be created. You could use the function keyword to create pseudo functions, but they weren't of the type 'function' and couldn't be passed as properties to components; this was particularly troublesome for event handlers;

-          It was very difficult / impossible to create new classes at runtime. Any component property that needs a class (like an icon on a tab bar) needed a fiddly workaround, nd iti didn't work in all cases;

-          Style sheets needed compiling with the Flex SDK. Now inline styles can be defined and compiled directly into the swf;

-          Extending with your own classes was more difficult than it needed to be. This still needs a bit of work, but you'll be able to add your own classes, written in AS3 to the application.

-          You can now use all the skinning stuff to create your own skins, and Xerte can create / edit skins. I've an example, but this is pretty nifty.

-          You have support for states that are much better managed in .mxml than ActionScript. States are also pretty nifty.

-          You'll be able to use components from the vast array of Flex resources out there;

-          You're no longer dependent on my runtime. This means less work for me, and means that all the existing Flex books / tutorials / resources are relevant to you. Xerte is essentially now an .mxml editor. You are getting into a very marketable and transferable set of knowledge and skills;

-          It will be much easier to keep up with future changes to the Flex SDK. This is another big weight off my mind / desk.

The older files more or less translate, as the xml had initialisation info for each component in it, so <ButtonIcon.../> is much the same as <Button.../>

I think the changes are well worth it.

J

From: xerte-bounces at lists.nottingham.ac.uk [mailto:xerte-bounces at lists.nottingham.ac.uk] On Behalf Of Kemp Johnathan
Sent: 09 October 2010 21:44
To: Xerte discussion list
Subject: Re: [Xerte] Xerte 3.0 Beta

Congratulations on your new version of Xerte 3.

I have downloaded and installed the new version, but find that it will not open any of the examples that you created for the earlier version of Xerte 3.

It looks very interesting, I am looking forward to the tutorials.

Kind regards

Johnathan

On 7 October 2010 14:02, Ron Mitchell <ronm at mitchellmedia.co.uk<mailto:ronm at mitchellmedia.co.uk>> wrote:
Brilliant! Wish I had time to play.
Congrats to all involved.

From: xerte-bounces at lists.nottingham.ac.uk<mailto:xerte-bounces at lists.nottingham.ac.uk> [mailto:xerte-bounces at lists.nottingham.ac.uk<mailto:xerte-bounces at lists.nottingham.ac.uk>] On Behalf Of Dave Burnett
Sent: 07 October 2010 13:50
To: Xerte list
Subject: RE: [Xerte] Xerte 3.0 Beta

Kudos to all involved.
A major undertaking.

Dave
________________________________
From: Julian.Tenney at nottingham.ac.uk<mailto:Julian.Tenney at nottingham.ac.uk>
To: xerte at lists.nottingham.ac.uk<mailto:xerte at lists.nottingham.ac.uk>
Date: Thu, 7 Oct 2010 13:41:42 +0100
Subject: [Xerte] Xerte 3.0 Beta
Hi,

There is a new beta of Xerte 3.0 to play with that you can download here: http://www.nottingham.ac.uk/xerte/xerte3.htm. Xerte 3.0 is a complete rewrite of Xerte 2.x, using the Flex framework. There is a major difference between this latest version and previous versions which I wanted to say something about. Anyone following Xerte 3.0 developments, or starting to use Xerte 3.0 to develop content needs to be aware of these changes.

Xerte 3.0 now compiles .swf files. It creates, from your code, the actual .swf file. There is no engine.swf unlike previous versions of Xerte 3.0 and Xerte 2.x. There are a number of good reasons why this was a good step to take.

Xerte 3.0 is really an .mxml editor and compiler using the Flex SDK to compile.swfs. You will need to download and install the Flex SDK to use Xerte 3.0 (see instructions on the web site). This means that Xerte 3.0 is quite clearly a tool for developers. It also means that you are interacting with the Flex SDK directly, rather than having our code parse and play your code. There are major performance benefits to doing this, as well as getting access to all the benefits of the Flex SDK, and it means that you can directly draw on all the Flex community's knowledge to create content with Xerte 3.0. Xerte 3.0 can compile many of the examples on Adobe's website and in the help system, as well as dozens of samples already available from the Flex community. It also means you are developing marketable skills in an established software development environment.

Flex is a very powerful, flexible (pardon the pun) and extensible suite of tools. Xerte 3.0 aims to fill a gap in the market of tools that sits somewhere between the hardcode coder's IDEs such as FlashDevelop or FlashBuilder, and something like Xerte 2.x or Authorware, and as time goes on Xerte 3.0 will contain more and more elearning specific features.

Xerte 3.0 can build 'normal'  flash applications. It can also build Air applications, and package them into installers, and when the Flex 4.5 SDK is complete, Xerte 3.0 will be able to build Mobile Applications. Being able to target all these platforms is exciting, particularly the mobile Air applications. Xerte 3.0 development is now closely following the development of the Flex 4.5 SDK - when that is complete I'll be able to finish Xerte 3.0 and draw on all the new features in Flex 4.5.

There's loads more to say about Flex, but not enough time or space here. I'm going to start a series of short tutorials to introduce you to the new environment and features, and walk you through all the new components, and other stuff you'll want to know about: components, styles, skinning, states, effects, transitions, data binding, using your own custom classes...

In the meantime, download and install the beta, and let me know any comments,

Thanks to Peter Huppertz - who has made a major contribution,

Have fun.

J

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