In this paper I would like to discuss the resources that are available to the developers, using such programming language as ActionScript 3. In particular, it is necessary to discuss the content of various websites and their benefits to the learners. The first resource that I would like to describe is called ActionScript Technology Center1. This website belongs to Adobe Systems Incorporated, the organization that holds copyrights to this scripting language.
This website provides guidelines for learning ActionScript 3 and explains the major applications of this tool. At this website, one can find instructions about the creation of animated objects, operations with text layout, coding snippets, building applications with ActionScript 3, and so forth. This resource also contains numerous tutorials and research articles that describe the use of Adobe Flash and Adobe Flex. Additionally, this web-based resource includes many samples, created using AS3.
They enable a person to better understand the capacity of this programming language. I have chosen this website for several reasons; first, it is equally suitable for the beginners and for people, who have already mastered the key principles of ActionScript 3. Secondly, the information is properly organized and one can quickly find what he/she wants. Finally, the organization that sustains this website is very experienced, and it offers only reliable information to the users.
Another resource, which is worth attention, is ActionScript 3.0 Reference for the Adobe Flash Platform. 2 It is also owned by the company Adobe Systems Incorporated. This website contains information about the classes, syntax, and event handlers. They are presented in alphabetical order. Furthermore, this website contains the list of compiler’s errors, character set definitions. One can also find valuable information about the differences existing between ActionScript 3.0 and ActionScript 2.0. Apart from that, this resource includes information about those packages which can support the Flash Platform.
The developers, using ActionScript 3.0, can also find instructions concerning the use of various symbols such as attribute identifier, equality, concatenation, etc. Overall, this website is more applicable to the needs of experienced programmers who want to refresh their knowledge of this scripting language. The main advantage of this resource is that it can be used as a quick reference guide by developers. Another property of this resource is the conciseness of instructions. The reader does not have to skip through long paragraphs to see the gist of some information. This is why this resource has been selected among many.
Such a website as ActionScript 3 Tutorials3 can also be of great assistance to the developers. It offers step-by-step instructions for creating various visual effects by using ActionScript 3, for example, the waterfall effect, three-mirror kaleidoscope, tinting, color fountain, etc. One can also download the program code for each of these visual effects. This resource will be of great interest to those people, who focus primarily on practical aspects of ActionScript 3.
It should be noted that this website is oriented toward people with various skill levels (basic, intermediate, and advanced). Moreover, it gives references to the textbooks, periodicals, and other websites that can assist both amateur and professional developers. Thus, the major reasons, why I have chosen this resource are the quality as well as a variety of information and practical focus.
One should also pay attention to such a website as Flash ActionScript 3.0 game programs & tutorials4. It contains tutorials, describing various operations with video, 3-D animation, and sound. This resource also provides instructions about accessing various URL addresses from the Flash platform. Again, we need to emphasize the idea that the information (both tutorials and program codes) available at this website is fully downloadable.
The developers, who will visit this website, will also find information about the use of such software tools as Adobe Flex and Adobe Flash. Yet, one has to take into consideration that this website will be more appropriate for those people, who have already become proficient in ActionScript 3; moreover, some of the instructions and guidelines may not seem understandable to the beginners. Nonetheless, this importance of this resource should not be underestimated because it illustrates the capacity of ActionScript 3 as a scripting language.
A person, who has only begun to work with ActionScript 3, may refer to such a website as ActionScript.org5. This website is divided into several sections:
- tutorials, explaining various operations with ActionScript 3, for example, creating color spectrum charts, building applications for the needs of databases, etc;
- educational videos;
- the collections of various AS3 samples;
- forum where users can share their experiences of using this scripting language;
- articles about the most widespread practice, adopted by developers.
ActionScript.org also gives hyperlinks to related websites and resources, for instance, flash videos, sounds, and templates. I have selected this website due to the following reasons:
- the variety and quality of information;
- clear site map,
- the ability to communicate with other people who also program in ActionScript 3.
The last website, which I would like to mention, is the Republic of the Code6. It offers both text and video tutorials to AS3 developers. These tutorials are dedicated to the vast variety of issues such as the application of masks while using ActionScript 3, creation of data lists, the use of URR loaders, and so forth. The user can see the program code for each of these operations. The developers of this website also provide users with an opportunity to communicate with others at forums.
Besides, this source provides hyperlinks to other websites, related to this subject. However, it should be taken into consideration that the Republic of Code is dedicated primarily to those people, who have already grasped the basics of programming in ActionScript 3. Certainly, one should not assume that this website is useless for beginners. It comprises a large number of introductory tutorials about text formatting in AS3, repeated execution of codes, creation of simple websites, etc. Still, a person should not use this website, if he/she only struggles with the basic principles of programming in AS3. The main reason why it has been chosen is the variety of tutorials, it offers.
This overview of educational websites shows that the Internet can offer valuable help to AS3 developers, who can be at different levels of proficiency and use ActionScript 3 for different purposes. More importantly, web-based sources are beneficial to the extent that they combine various media: text, video, sound, and animation. This use of multimedia enables the learner to better understand the principles of AS3 and acquire new skills based on this information.
Works Cited
ActionScript.org. “Getting started with Actionscript 3”. (2010). Web.
Adobe Systems Incorporated. “ActionScript Technology Center”. 2010. Web.
Adobe Systems Incorporated. “ActionScript 3.0 Reference for the Adobe Flash Platform” 2010. Web.
Flash ActionScript 3.0 game programs & tutorials. (2010). Web.
Flash&Math. “ActionScript 3 Tutorials”. 2010. Web.
Republic of Code. Tutorials. (2010). Web.
Footnotes
- Adobe Systems Incorporated. “ActionScript Technology Center”. 2010. Web.
- Adobe Systems Incorporated. “ActionScript 3.0 Reference for the Adobe Flash Platform” 2010. Web.
- Flash&Math. “ActionScript 3 Tutorials”. Web.
- Flash ActionScript 3.0 game programs & tutorials. Web.
- ActionScript.org. “Getting started with Actionscript 3”. (2010). Web.
- Republic of Code. Tutorials. (2010). Web.