Here comes the good stuff.
Illumination Software Creator 2.0 Beta 2 for Linux is available!
This Beta 2 release adds the ability to build Adobe Flex (Flash) web applications from the exact same projects that you’ve already created.
Ah, the glory of building applications without writing a single line of code, then having them run on Linux, Windows, MacOS X, Nokia Tablets… and now in your websites via Flash.
The big changes in 2.0 Beta 2:
- You can now build Adobe Flex – Web applications!
- The “Run” toolbar button now has a dropdown next to it that lets you choose which type of application (“Python/GTK-Desktop”, “Adobe Flex – Web”, etc.) you would like to run.
- A new Illumination Preferences window that allows you to set the location of the Flex SDK (necessary for building Flex applications).
- The Window Editor now has a new menu item that allows you to copy the layout of one “Design For” build target to another. (For example, you can copy the look and feel of your Flex application from your Python Desktop application, etc.)
Illumination 2.0 Beta 2 is only available for Linux at the moment. Windows and MacOS X versions are on the way shortly!
For download links see the Illumination Beta Info page then see here for information on installing necessary files to support building Adobe Flex applications.
Here’s a quick example of a project created with Illumination and built for Flex (you can download the project itself here):
Pretty cool, right? That project took maybe… 6 or 7 minutes to throw together. And the resulting applications run great on my desktops, the N900 sitting on my desk… and you can see the resulting Flex application right there.
So check out the Beta release. Join the official Illumination Forum. And pick up a copy of Illumination from the online store.
June 16th, 2010 - 8:10 pm
Sounds cool, Bryan. I am taking a class, now, in Flash and Action Script 3.0. My time is pretty well taken up until the end of the quarter, but, I would like to read more and see some more examples from ISC. Guess I am saying I would like to see a FAQ, too.
Congratulations on the IDE and most of all on the concept.
June 16th, 2010 - 8:52 pm
I totally aced that quiz.
…NO! It really was hard!
June 17th, 2010 - 2:20 am
You know, you keep showing us quiz apps, or calculator apps, or other simple stuff, which is good for concept demos, but by version 2.0 (even while in beta), you should be able to show us more powerful things that this editor can do. Don’t get me wrong, these are good demos, but you can make that easily in almost any windowing toolkit you use. For example, unless I’m mistaken, you currently can’t use Illumination to create a jukebox type application, well, at least not without a LOT of work, and I’m guessing it would be slow, after all, your program ‘is’ turing complete.
(I think anyway, you can manipulate and it allows for branching).
Still keep up the good work, I’m hopeful that this may become more than a prototype builder. (Which is what it currently does do very well).
June 18th, 2010 - 1:46 am
Without something like Megablocks, the ability to make large, complex programs will be impossible. Too many blocks on screen.
June 18th, 2010 - 5:06 am
bob: More robust documentation is on the way. For now the tutorial and examples offer a great way to get started, and the forum is available for questions. But, obviously, an online wiki and help system is necessary going forward.
benjamin: Nice job dude!
Leif: Most of the larger projects we have in-house for ISC are all for testing purposes. Meaning they are large and crazy and do very odd stuff just to make sure each build that goes out doesn’t break anything… but they are terrible projects to show what is doable.
So I usually end up whipping up examples quickly… like this little quiz took just a couple of minutes to put together.
Which… while you can do similar things in most any development toolset… doing it in 5 minutes is certainly a challenge. Plus this would be easy to do for even a non-developer. And then it runs as a Flex RIA website, a desktop app and a Maemo app. So I’d count that as pretty awesome.
But, your point is very well taken. More extensive examples of what ISC can do would be very helpful for everyone. What we really need is to have a place that people can showcase some of the cool projects they’ve already made. (There have been some cool RPG’s, memory games, etc. made by some very inventive ISC users.)
Conan: Megablocks will, without a doubt, make ISC 100 times more powerful. It is something that I am extremely excited for. But, even now, there is much that can be done. People have emailed me some pretty cool stuff over the last few weeks. I have been… impressed.
After 2.0 ships (along with a new website and a few other odds and ends), one of the high priorities really needs to be just such a “ISC project showcase” site. That will help new users a great deal and really show people what can be accomplished.