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.

• 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.

Mac-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)

• ActionStep – an OpenStep-like framework for Flash (fear!)
• AnimationPackage
• Particle class