Posts

Showing posts with the label fdt

62% of developers are using FlashDevelop? That can't be right!

That provocative title is just to draw your attention to the voting box over there in the right hand column where you can vote for your favourite ActionScript editor. As I write this, it says 62% of you are using my favourite piece of software, FlashDevelop. I don't really believe this, considering the response I got when I stated my preference for FlashDevelop over Eclipse. So vote please! The future of Flash depends upon it.

(It doesn't).

The poll is over there >>>

10 reasons I prefer FlashDevelop to Eclipse and FDT

I know this is well-trodden ground (e.g. FDT Vs. FlashDevelop on flashmech), but I've finally spent some time with Eclipse and FDT, and to be honest I can't really see what the fuss is about. Of course Mac users don't really have the option of using FlashDevelop (except under emulation), but for PC users, I just don't see the advantage of Eclipse. Obviously the PowerFlasher guys have done a great job on their part, but Eclipse is just too unintuitive for me.

So here's 10 reasons I prefer FlashDevelop to Eclipse:
  1. FlashDevelop is free. FDT is quite expensive.
  2. FlashDevelop starts auto-completing as soon as you start typing. In FDT you have to type "this." to get the auto-completion menu. UPDATE: Sorry, you can also press CTRL-SPACE, but it's still an extra step.
  3. FlashDevelop automatically adds import statements. Eclipse doesn't, as far as I can see. UPDATE: I think it should have done but was badly configured on the Mac I was using.
  4. FlashDevelop's project window automatically finds new files. In Eclipse you have to add the folder manually, then tell Eclipse it's a source folder. UPDATE: Again, this was partly due to bad configuration, but Eclipse convoluted enough to let this happen easily.
  5. FlashDevelop projects can be moved around easily. Eclipse has confusing hidden project files.
  6. FlashDevelop renders fast. Text in Eclipse has a delay before formatting correctly. UPDATE: This is probably down to the beat-up old Mac I was using ;)
  7. FlashDevelop has a cute quick-find search box. I couldn't find this in Eclipse.
  8. FlashDevelop has zero learning curve - I picked it up instantly. I have wrestled with Eclipse for a week and still don't feel I've cracked it.
  9. CTRL + ENTER in FlashDevelop switches to the Flash IDE and publishes. Eclipse doesn't do this. UPDATE: Can be done with a free plug-in. Probably better to use FlexSDK and asset SWCs anyway.
  10. CTRL + the mouse wheel changes the text-size in FlashDevelop. I had to use google just to work out how to change the font size in Eclipse!
If anyone can counter any of these points it would help me a lot, as I have to use Eclipse for the next week, so please leave comments!