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.