ActionScript

ActionScript is, in a nutshell, JavaScript with a Flash-oriented DOM. If you can write spaghetti code in one, you can write spaghetti code in the other.

The three key steps for mastering ActionScript are:

  • Don’t use the crappy Flash (in fact, don’t even think about using it, it is a hideous development environment).
  • Get a decent book on the language and focus on figuring out the DOM and event models.
  • Learn how to use MTASC.

Debugging

  • Install the Flash Debug Plugin (be prepared to faff around with the installer and administrative accounts)
  • Create a mm.cfg file in the system-wide (yes, I know, it’s dumb) /Library/Application\ Support/Macromedia folder with the following content:
ErrorReportinEnable=1  
TraceOutputFileEnable=1
  • Logging is then performed to /Users/username/Library/Preferences/Macromedia/Flash\ Player/Logs/flashlog.txt

There is also Flashbug, which is nice if you don’t want to use the Flash Debug Plugin.

Resources

-specific

  • Developing Flash on a Mac (oooh, movie eyecandy)
  • [HOWTO: Develop Flash on Mac OS X with Rake, MTASC, SWFMill and TextMate] (much more detail)

Libraries

This page is referenced in:

  • FlashMar 29th 2007