Babble Fish

I have heard about Flex for some time. It’s released by Adobe, it’s open source, can compile for both web browser or desktop, it’s great for data visualisation, and it is quick and simple. Only until recently, I bought a kind of a dummy book to know more about Flex. Flex has jumped to version 3, I heard about it when it was still version 2.

After going through the book on how to prepare Eclipse or Aptana IDE to create my first Hello World using Flex, a lazy bump like me went straight ahead to Adobe website to download the trial version of Flex Builder. No doubt, it is the simplest an easiest way to design, write and compile those Flex apps. Without any knowledge of Flex, I spent one afternoon to create simple RSS feed reader. Not that I am smart, but it is really simple.

Recently, the video player plug-in that we use for our class blogs (yes, I teach) are not showing M4V and MOV files on PCs, even QuickTime is properly installed. So the try Flex out, I have written a simple video player that accept parameters (video link) from the embed code. The player plays M4V and MOV well on all the computers and browsers we have in the lab (Mac, PC, IE, Safari and Firefox). The the source code in Flex Builder is only like the following:

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<mx:Application xmlns:mx="http://www.adobe.com/2006/mxml" layout="absolute" width="400" height="300" applicationComplete="initApp()" >
<mx:Script>
<![CDATA[
     private function initApp():void
     {
     	vid.source = Application.application.parameters.vurl;
      }
]]>
</mx:Script>
<mx:VideoDisplay x="0" y="0" width="400" height="300" autoPlay="false" id="vid"/>
<mx:Button x="297" y="275" label="?" toolTip="Play" width="32" id="playbutton" click="vid.play()" />
<mx:Button x="365" y="275" label="?" toolTip="Stop" width="32" id="stopbutton" click="vid.stop()" />
<mx:Button x="331" y="275" label="?" toolTip="Pause" width="32" id="pausebutton" click="vid.pause()" />
</mx:Application>

Yes, it is less than 20 lines of code. Flex Builder will generate a Flash video player that can be embeded in any HTML document. You do need to have a few more files to go with the SWF file, but guess what? I don’t have to code those files. I just copy and put it is the right place, it will run as smooth as silk

CALL FOR PARTICIPATION

ASIA SOURCE 3
07-12 November 2009
Silang, Cavite, Philippines

MABUHAY! (Long live!) and get ready for Asia Source 3!

If you are a F/OSS advocate, an enthusiast or end-user, a developer or even a newbie who strongly believes in building capacities and empowering humanity with the use of Free/Open Source Software, we look forward to welcome you to Asia Source 3 to connect, cooperate, and collaborate – the F/OSS way.

The International Open Source Network (IOSN) ASEAN+3 with support from InWEnt Capacity Building International, Germany, ASEAN Foundation, and Open Society Institute Information Program and co-organized by Tactical Technology Collective and Aspiration bring ASIA SOURCE 3 to the Philippines on 7 to 12 November 2009.

The third event of the Asia source camp series, two of which have been held so far – in Bangalore, India in 2005 and Sukabumi, Indonesia in 2007 – the 6-day learn-and-share event will be held at the lush greens and quiet cool environs of the YEN CENTER – home to the Headquarters and Regional Center for Asia of the International Institute of Rural Reconstruction (IIRR) – located in Silang, a landlocked municipality south of Metro Manila, within the historic Province of Cavite.

In the tradition of source camps, Asia Source 3 will bring in participants from various subregions of the Asian continent, who share common goals of pursuing the Free/Open Source Software (F/OSS) advocacy and its promotion and use among non-profit organizations, small-to-medium enterprises and youth networks.

Asia Source 3 offers applicants to choose one among four (4) F/OSS-themed track sessions:

ONE: Managing Your Information
TWO: Migrating to F/OSS
THREE: Broadcasting Your Information
FOUR: Joining the F/OSS Community / Using F/OSS Tools

Online application opens on 14 August 2009, Friday at 1200H (GMT+8).
Downloadable forms will be made available.

Please regularly visit the Asia Source site at www.iosn.net/as3 for updates and information.

Due to some delay at the airport, the journey to the Mekong ICT camp venue was really long. We started working right away and the secretariat was really hard working… I think they finished at 2am last night.

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