Adobe to release Flex 2.0 beta for web development

Adobe is releasing a beta edition of its Flex 2.0 web development platform.

Flex, originally developed by Macromedia before Adobe acquired the company, is aimed at software developers who write web applications which use the Flash presentation system.

The platform is based on the open source Eclipse software development environment, and includes frameworks – pre-written code – to quicken application development. A server component is included for corporate applications that integrate with back-end systems.

The Flex 2.0 beta is scheduled to be available for download from the Adobe website today, along with the upgraded Adobe Flash Player 8.5. Flex 2.0, equipped with improved frameworks and other features, is being used by Adobe to increase the take up of the technology.

With Adobe's wider marketing reach following the acquisition of Macromedia, the number of Flex-based developers is expected to rise.

The final commercial version of Flex 2.0 is expected in the second quarter of the year.