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- Jan 1, 1970
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I have been given the task by our development team to gather some information on the feasibility of using Macromedia Flash MX as the front-end interface for a multi-tier, client/server application built in .Net. I wanted to enlist the feedback from both Flash and .Net Developers on how this could work. Here is the background of the application:
The application will be built to run under the .Net Framework in C#. The back-end database system will be SQL Server 2000 or Oracle 9. Data tier objects and business logic objects will be written in C#. Initially the two options for the client/presentation layer was ASP.Net/HTML/XML or a custom Windows Form client. Then it was suggested that we see if a custom client interface could be built using Flash MX, and used to access the .Net application. A quick first look on the Macromedia site gave some basic info, especially the new Pet Store Web App using Flash for the Web front end. There is info there about .Net for business and data access, but not much. I wanted to get some expert advise on the feasibility of this being used in a robust application, with 30+ screens possible as part of the interface layer.
The application was initially scoped as a stand-alone network application with a fat client front end. Then we recommended either an Intranet-based application or a thin client front end. The Web-based idea might not be available, so I also wanted to see if a stand-alone client could be built in Flash MX of a non-Web based client/server application. If Flash can be used, but only as a Web application, this still might be an option.
Our Flash developers are well versed in their end of things, but not more than at the beginner's level of C#. They understand the .Net Framework and methodology fairly well. Then our .Net developers are versed in C#, but not so much with Flash.
What was proposed is that the Flash developers build the GUI from the specifications and prototype templates. The .Net team would build the business logic interfaces in a way that they would be exposed to the Flash application for input/output. Is this possible? Essentially the team would work closely together in defining object interfaces for the two tiers to interact. But can the Flash guys build an interface that will easily provide the controls for the C# business and data objects to process?
Before proposing this as a real option, I thought I'd gather some real-world information from developers who are either trying this, or have successfully done this. Or more importantly, if it's even possible with the current state of the technology.
Thanks in advance for the help.
The application will be built to run under the .Net Framework in C#. The back-end database system will be SQL Server 2000 or Oracle 9. Data tier objects and business logic objects will be written in C#. Initially the two options for the client/presentation layer was ASP.Net/HTML/XML or a custom Windows Form client. Then it was suggested that we see if a custom client interface could be built using Flash MX, and used to access the .Net application. A quick first look on the Macromedia site gave some basic info, especially the new Pet Store Web App using Flash for the Web front end. There is info there about .Net for business and data access, but not much. I wanted to get some expert advise on the feasibility of this being used in a robust application, with 30+ screens possible as part of the interface layer.
The application was initially scoped as a stand-alone network application with a fat client front end. Then we recommended either an Intranet-based application or a thin client front end. The Web-based idea might not be available, so I also wanted to see if a stand-alone client could be built in Flash MX of a non-Web based client/server application. If Flash can be used, but only as a Web application, this still might be an option.
Our Flash developers are well versed in their end of things, but not more than at the beginner's level of C#. They understand the .Net Framework and methodology fairly well. Then our .Net developers are versed in C#, but not so much with Flash.
What was proposed is that the Flash developers build the GUI from the specifications and prototype templates. The .Net team would build the business logic interfaces in a way that they would be exposed to the Flash application for input/output. Is this possible? Essentially the team would work closely together in defining object interfaces for the two tiers to interact. But can the Flash guys build an interface that will easily provide the controls for the C# business and data objects to process?
Before proposing this as a real option, I thought I'd gather some real-world information from developers who are either trying this, or have successfully done this. Or more importantly, if it's even possible with the current state of the technology.
Thanks in advance for the help.