Learning Actionscript 3
If you have even a basic understanding of programming essentials--such as how to use variables and functions--this one-day ActionScript workshop will help take your AS3 skills to the next level. Those new to the language will benefit from an introduction to its two most fundamental building blocks: the event model and display list. Experienced scripters will gain here as well, as intermediate skills like custom events, memory management, and communicating with AS2/AS1 SWFs will be covered. During the morning session you will evolve a sound visualization project from humble procedural roots to a reusable object-oriented structure. After lunch, OOP will be the primary focus as you learn about inheritance, composition, encapsulation, polymorphism, and more. By day's end, you'll have combined everything you've learned to create a basic particle system--a great first step in building OOP architectures for rich visuals and applications. Demo source files will be distributed in each major topic area, so you won't have to type feverishly to keep up. You'll be free to pay attention and make sure you understand the big picture as you go along. With all of AS3's speed and power comes a steeper learning curve. This workshop will help get you moving quickly and with confidence. Level: Beginner to Intermediate Prerequisites: Familiarity with Flash and basic programming concepts Bring: A laptop with Flash CS4 or CS5 installed Suggested Reading: Learning ActionScript 3 (O'Reilly) Attendees will receive Chapter 2 of Learning ActionScript 3.0, "Language Fundamentals," before the workshop. You can also consult additional sample chapters that will apply to the workshop examples:View Sample Chapters Download the workshop outline here.
Rich Shupe is the founder of FMA -- a full-service multimedia development company and training facility in New York City. Rich teaches Flash and other digital technologies in academic and commercial environments worldwide. He is a professor in the MFA department at New York\'s School of Visual Arts, is a Flashbelt veteran, and presents at additional industry conferences, including Flash on the Beach and Flash at the City, among others. He is also the author or co-author of several books, including Learning ActionScript 3.0, Learning Flash CS4, and The ActionScript Quick Reference Guide (all O\'Reilly), and presents Flash video training for Lynda.com.