New PHP Features in Flash Builder 4 - Part 1: Data-Centric Feature Overview

PHP and the Flash Platform are  no strangers. when Flash Player 4 added dynamic data features via query strings, PHP was there. When Flash Player 5 added XML support, PHP was there. When Flash Player 6 added support for Flash Remoting and AMF, new PHP projects such as AMFPHP emerged. With Flash Player 7 came the Flex application framework. Flex 3 took PHP support to heart with a built-in data wizard in Flex Builder 3, and an update and overhaul of AMFPHP in partnership with Zend, producing Zend AMF.

Now we are on the cusp of the latest and greatest chapter in that relationship with beta builds of Flex 4 and related tooling available on Adobe Labs. In this three part article series we will take a look at what the PHP developer can expect from some of the more data-centric features provided these latest releases. The first part will take a look at a branding change, and move onto an overview of data-centric development. Parts two and three will talk about the role of Zend AMF, and and look at how Flash Builder 4's PHP support is pushing new boundaries with features such as implicit paging and data management.

Editor's Note: This article is designed as an informational overview of the PHP-related features of Flex 4 and Flash Builder 4, which are currently in a beta state available on Adobe Labs.  These products are not yet feature complete, and their implementation is subject to change.  This overview is not intended as a step-by-step tutorial.

Branding Changes

Flex Builder originally came about with Flex 1.5 and was originally based on Dreamweaver.  Flex Builder 2 saw the move to an Eclipse-based tool, really embracing the movement of many vendors (including Zend) to a common IDE foundation.  Flex Builder 3 extended the tooling by adding support for pure ActionScript projects - projects that didn't use the Flex Framework.  Flash developers could use Flash Professional to create their assets and content, and then use Flex Builder 3 to code up the document class and other supporting classes, but never touch the Flex Framework.

Further yet, entire applications could be written using only ActionScript projects, that never touched Flash Professional or the Flex Framework.

To be more inline with this usage of the IDE to create all types of Flash-based content, both those using the Flex Framework and those not using it, Flex Builder is now called Flash Builder 4.  Flash Builder it still built on Eclipse, it is still available as standalone or plug-in options, and it still works with Zend Studio. The open source Flex SDK, including the Flex Framework is still called Flex, and Flash Builder still has pure ActionScript project support. Flash Builder also still has great PHP support - in fact it is more robust now than ever before.

Getting Started with Flash Builder

Once you have Flash Builder downloaded, installed and started up, the first thing you'll want to do is create a new project. As you walk through the New Project wizard, you will notice that the PHP project type is still there. As a reference, here is an example of my project settings pointing to a local MAMP (http://www.mamp.info) installation.