flex flash air interfaces for custom content types in drupal chris charlton
DESCRIPTION
Slides from the DrupalCamp Colorado 2008 session presented by Chris Charlton on forward thinking of Drupal interfaces with technologies like Flex, AIR, and Flash.TRANSCRIPT
FLEX/FLASH/AIR INTERFACES FOR CUSTOM CONTENT TYPES IN DRUPAL
as presented by Chris Charlton
N O F L U F F N O M A R K E T I N G J U S T I D E A S
CHRISCHARLTON.US
I.DRUPAL.LA
Co-author, first book with Drupal & Flex.Advanced Flex Application
Development: Building Rich Media X
Co-manage LA Drupal, over 150 strong.
DrupalCampLA, also join us there Sept 16-17.
// What’s possible
WHAT’S THIS R.I.A. BUZZ?Rich Internet Applications (RIA)
WHO DOES THIS NOW?
Basics first...
DRUPALPHP - Free.
MySQL/Postgre - Free.CSS/XHTML/JS - Free.
Licensing - Free.Is a Framework? Yes.
http://drupal.org
WE CHOSE DRUPAL FOR:
Ease.Free cost.
Vibrant community.Customization!
CONTENT CREATION KIT (CCK)
Allows quick creation of custom content types.
Community module.
Drupal 5 & 6.
Used a lot... really, a lot.
http://drupal.org/project/cck
CCK Interface (Drupal 5)
Too many choices?
CUSTOM CONTENT... TOO EASY
Make up content types with CCK:
Clients and contacts
Horde clan members
Session proposal forms
Anything!
C C K P O L I C E D O N O T E X I S T.
1. Define content types with CCK.
(Forms to enter, update, and delete content are made auto-magically)
2. Set permissions.
3. Create view(s) of that custom content type.
Rinse and repeat.
NORM CCK WORKFLOW
Put some magic on
SERVICES DRUPAL MODULE
Turns Drupal into a data gateway
Add the AMFPHP module and get Flex’n.
Drupal 5 & 6 (in dev)
http://drupal.org/project/services
FLEXSDK - Free.
Framework - in the SDK.Documentation - Online.
Licensing - Free.
http://adobe.com/flex
Flex Builder is Adobe’s IDE.
Flex applications are programmed with ActionScript, MXML, XML, and CSS.
Flex is easy to code - I’ll me show you! (demo)
FLEX IS A FRAMEWORK
MYTH: You need to install a “Flex Player.” Flex only needs Flash Player 9 or above.
MYTH: Flex costs $$$.Flex compilers, SDK, and framework are all free.
MYTH: Ajax is better.Flex is Ajax/JavaScript friendly so stop hating.
MYTH: Flex only loads XML.Flex has Binary Sockets.
FLEX MYTHS
FLEX VS. FLASH
Flex is a framework, Flash is not.
Flash can use the Flex framework.
Flash is geared towards design and animation.
Flex is for programmers, programmers, programmers.
Flash components can be used in Flex projects.
Computer, show me awesome-ness.
FLEX + DRUPAL SCENARIOS
Photo management for the rest of us.
Fields/Modules:
Image (file)
Image name (optional)
Image Field, Gallery, etc.
Sets or folders (feature)
Tags
SCENARIO: PHOTO MGMT
WHAT CAN THAT LOOK LIKE?
http://www.scalenine.com/themes/darkroom/darkroom.html
OR LOOK LIKE THIS...
http://fleksray.org/skins/scribble/Scribble.html
OR BE PHOTOSHOP EXPRESS!
http://photoshop.com/express
Public web site bug submission
Fields:
E-mail (optional)
Browser (type and version)
Operating System (and version)
Where the error/bug occurred
Send screenshot(s) of the entire Flex area
Notes or issue description
SCENARIO: REPORT-A-BUG
WHAT CAN THAT LOOK LIKE?
Public web site to submit web sites or Flex projects
Fields:
Company
Category/Tag(s)
URL link
Screenshot image(s)
Notes or comments
SCENARIO: SHOWCASE
WE HAVEN’T SEEN NOTHING(double negative)
ADOBE AIRSDK - Free.
Framework - in the SDK.Documentation - Free.
Publishing Cross Platform Desktop Software - Free.
http://adobe.com/air
Flex applications make easy AIR apps.
Adobe AIR apps are programmed with/in ActionScript, JavaScript, MXML, XML, and CSS.
Make software for Windows, Mac OS X, and Linux.
ADOBE AIR
Adobe AIR makes your app “Halo status”
ADOBE AIR SCENARIOS
Dashboard desktop app provides visual status about your Drupal sites.
Fields/Features:
Site name (optional)
URL/IP to watch
Site check frequency (seconds, minutes, hours, days)
Save/Export data and reports to PDF, PNG/JPG, or CSV for starters.
SCENARIO: SITE WATCHER
WHAT CAN THAT LOOK LIKE?
http://samples.degrafa.com
WHAT ABOUT FLASH?
“Flash” is a...
1. Technology
2. Platform
3. IDE/Software
4. Flash Player
Conversation:
“You do Flash?”“Yup."“Sweet.”
http://adobe.com/flash
F L A S H I S G O I N G F R O M 2 D . . .
T O 3 D !
Don’t fear robots
Dream well.