I've been reluctant to make the move from ActionScript 2 to ActionScript 3. A couple of months back I decided it was something that must be done to keep with the current trends. I was trying to be 'tech-savvy'. That lasted for a whole 10 minutes in which time it was revealed that functions had been renamed, and others had been removed altogether. The task I was attempting was a rather simple one, which is why it originally seem like a good starting platform to get familiar with AS3. But the thought of finding out what the new functions were named and which simple items could no longer be used (goodbye defining variables simply as global) all seemed too hard, so it was back to AS2.
Last week however, I had an update to do on an old flash file. The flash contained a simple countdown clock that was slightly buggy. It was then I discovered the timer function in AS3. Very simple and easy to use. It took less than half an hour to implement the new function and it worked brilliantly. The advantages of AS3 were starting to become evident. That was until I remembered that this flash file communicated with another, much larger and complex, flash file. There were two options.
- To revert my new fabulous yet simple file back to AS2 or
- Convert my older, larger and much much more complex file into AS3.
The latter really wasn't even an option. So regretfully I found a clunkier way to make the countdown work in AS2.
But the last experience has actually created some interest and excitement in what else AS3 can deliver. I am certain I am not the only person who initially freaked out. Even whole companies are having issues with getting their employees to swap over. This prompted a helpful little blog where people are posting their own experiences of how they found the transition and what could be done better. View blog here
The biggest learning curve is that AS3 is Object Orientated, which means it is more like other programing languages. If users who have been using AS2 have no other previous programming experience, then this could be a big learning curve.
So after an initial freak out, it has become clear that I should just bite the bullet and dive into AS3, as the quicker I work out the new function names, then the quicker I can make use of new functions and cleaning coding.
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