Joseph Koheleth said
I used this book extensively while learning Flash CS3 and CS4. I did not do much designing, mostly coding. I found this book to be exceptionally helpful as a developer with no background in any of the ECMA family script languages. I continued to use the book regularly over a period of two years and usually found it to be a great refresher or knowledge extender of the topic I needed that day. I highly recommend it. Although it is extensive, don't expect the book contain literally everything. It doesn't go into depth on the components (as I had wished) and one or two other times I came up empty, but I still don't think that demotes it to 4 stars. I found it to be the best laid out of all the ActionScript books I reviewed (and it pairs well with Moock). It is definitely my go-to-first book for ActionScript. If you are an absolute guru, maybe you don't need it (or any other book), otherwise get it and start reading and developing!
Chuck Brooks said
Adobe's ActionScript 3 has many things in common with regular compiled languages, with a specialized focus on the Flash player and engine. Here's a good desk reference to avoid drowning in the online help that often times is a hindrance for here and now how to use it information.
One of Einstein's famous quotes is about not bothering to remember what can be looked up. There may not have been as much information that could be easily looked up in those days, while today we're inundated with it at every turn. This is particularly true for Adobe's ActionScript 3, the latest outgrowth of the Flash engine's programming tool. There's so much there, both from the precursor versions and the new, really object oriented restructuring that keeping track of it all may well be impossible.
This is particularly so for someone just starting to use ActionScript, with trying to get usage information from the online help is like attempting to get a drink of water from a fire hydrant. Plus, in today's heterogeneous software environments, mind share has to compete with other programming and scripting approaches and architectures, most having little connection with the others.
This book's first chapter is also the largest one, and deals with ActionScript 3's basics. It is followed by the second largest chapter, which deals with the object structure of this latest version of the language. With these first two chapters provide the basis for the remaining chapters and sections, each illuminated with code snippets that illuminate a usage or concept in concrete terms. Well written and a surprisingly easy read for such a technical subject, it provides more immediate how to information than can typically be found in online help, which itself is seldom noted for clarity of thought or ease of expression.
Highly recommended for anyone new to ActionScript, and a good aide memoire to seasoned professionals.
The book's 687 pages are organized into 37 chapters, grouped into in ten functional sections. With a rich index and code samples on the Wiley web site.
Yonge-Jean Kim said
About half of example codes generate compiler errors. There are a few chapters in which none of the snippets works. I figure that experienced ActionScripters could fix those bugs as they go along, but for a reference-type book claiming to cater to all levels, this doesn't make any sense. How could they teach with examples that don't work? Comically, the book has a chapter on debugging. Handful of snippets, they can't be bothered to put into folders with corresponding chapter titles, so they simply dunked them in the top level folder, so you'll need to open up all of them and check to find a matching code. I've been reading computer-related books regularly for about 15 years, and this is the first time to come across a book done at a downright crappy level of production. If they can't be bothered with necessary production, why would they bother to write to begin with? If you're looking for a ActionScript counterpart of Danny Goodman's, you'll be in for a surprise.
Matt Milburn said
Anyone wanting to learn ActionScript 3.0 or just have an amazing reference book for ActionScript 3.0 should own this book. It's so easy to read through and it's definitely a book that allows you to be selective with which parts you read and which parts you skip over. I would recommend this book for beginners all the way up to experts.
Matt Eye said
Took a class in Flash with this book at a community college.
The book was great, but the class was dreadful.
I wouldn't recommend Flash if you don't understand the math (if you are creating complex video games, maybe) and coding required. If you are familiar with Flash (or can understand it to an extent), ActionScript Bible is a decent reference.
It is not in color (B&W), except for the cover. (Printed in soy ink, unlike most newspapers and magazines.)
This is for CS3 (which I have). Good luck coding! (Meanwhile, learn the basics beforehand. Each version gets better.)
Comments