Ahmad’s Muse

Posted by ahmadster at December 26th, 2006

For a very long time, I’ve been an advocate of Python and wxPython. I could not understand why wxPython wasn’t at least as popular as Java. But honestly, I did know why, but that’s another post.

Adobe just released Flex2 and I’m way impressed. It seems they took a very good look at wxPython and really did it right.
Check out the component browser and the style browser to see what I mean.
Things that wxPython had that Flex2 does even better include:

• Cross-Platform, its really a flash file, how much more cross platform can you get? I don’t even think Java is that good.
• Consistent + elegant, usually you can have one or the other, but Flex2 is right on target.
• XML-based UI Layout. This is what XUL of the Mozilla project was/is trying to do.
• Built-in goodness, FLV + MP3 streaming, ActionScript (javascript done right), transition effects, etc…
• Tiny foot print.
• No installation required. Well, not so fast, you would need the flash plugin if its running in a browser. But as a Flex2 application, it gives you a single EXE file on Winder’s and an App in Mac. Not sure what it does on Linux.
• Access to machine hardware like the Mic, the Camera, etc…

But you’re going to bug me about Flex2 being a commercial application. True, the Flex2 Builder is > $500. I wouldn’t buy it even if it were free. The SDK is totally free, that’s all you need anyway. You can build a full Flex2 application using the normal C, C++, and Obj-C tools like make with the Flex2 compiler. It’s way simpler than GCC folks

If Adobe keeps this up they will hit a home run guaranteed.

Posted by ahmadster at December 26th, 2006

I finally found the fix for the blue tint you get when using QCRenderer and QuickTime to export frames to a file.
On Intel Macs, you have to use
GL_UNSIGNED_INT_8_8_8_8
instead of
GL_UNSIGNED_INT_8_8_8_8_REV
In all of your OpenGL functions.

It makes sense since the the processor was switched from PPC to Intel. I would have thought Apple already took care of all these minor endian annoyances. Oh well, as long as I know what’s going on.