Programming Flash Communication Server

This is a very well-written book written by many famous FlashCom developers. It does not only give a comprehensive guideline on how to develope FlashCom applications, it also introduces best-practices and design patterns for developers. It also has many useful and real-world examples. However, I believe this books is between beginner and intermediate level. You must know some ActionScript in order to get into what this book is talking about. I highly recommend this book for FlashCom developers.

For anyone interested in the exploring or exploiting the power of FCS, this book is indispensable. We have multiple programmers who have been working with FCS for more than two years. We really rocketed into new areas of development once we had the book in hand. I can't imagine not having this essential reference and source of ideas.

Programming Flash Communication Server, Lesser et al., O'Reilly, 2005 Reviewed by Damian Taggart As far as I know, Programming Flash Communication Server by Brian Lesser, Giacomo Guilizzoni, Robert Reinhardt, Joey Lott, and Justin Watkins is the ONLY thorough reference for creating, using and optimizing real-time communication applications built with the Flash Platform. This book, in conjunction with the Macromedia Flash Communication server documentation, will empower your development process, giving you all the resources needed to develop and deploy FlashCom web applications with the confidence that comes from having a sophisticated understanding of the how to Flash Communication Server functions. The book covers Server-Side ActionScript (SSAS) in addition to both ActionScript 1.0 and 2.0 implementations on the client side. Along the companion website (http://flash-communications.net/) and sample applications, you'll be able to set up and test many proof-of-concept application instances in surprisingly short lengths of time. As stated in the book, much of the code provided will needs some tweaking before you put it into production -- to reflect the vagaries of your particular network and client-base. I'm not sure I'd recommend reading this book cover-to-cover, as it is 800 plus pages -- but it is divided up in easily navigable, relatively stand-alone sections. Some highlights for the various sections include: * an introduction to the platform and server architecture * how to manage clients * generating detailed server logs and reports * setting up a surveillance application using Flash * implementing local and remote SharedObjects * publishing live and on-demand video * video conferencing * and of course, scalability and security in FlashCom applications This book hasn't left my desk since I got it and began working heavily with Flash Communication Server. If you're going to be using the FlashCom platform, you need this book.

I have been trying hard to read all the chapters of Programming Flash Communication Server but have never been able to finish off all 800+ pages of the book. I have finally finished the reading almost the entire book. Now, that I would rather use the book as a complete reference for Flash Communication Server Application development, its time to write a review! The authors are those whom I have, well we all have, looked upon as the best in the industry, especially with Flash and related technologies. Well before the book hit shelves, I knew that this was going to be *THE* book for Flash Communication Server. With authors like Peldi and Brian Lesser, there can be no mistake in saying that this is the must-have book if you are into application development for Flash Communication Server. Forward The Forward by Macromedia's own Flash Communication Server Architect, Pritham Shetty, starts to show the book's worth right away. As I finished the Forward, I was already referring to Pritham Shetty as the *Father of Flash Communication Server*. His story of heading the FlashCom team, their study of the market, technologies and finally their decision to come up with a real-time communication infrastructure to take Flash and Macromedia into a new, profitable business in the telecommunication world was not just interesting but very inspiring. Their idea of supporting a range of real-time applications like classroom, company meeting, front door cam, customer service, car race, remote presence led them to implement base features: audio, video or data as streams, real-time and on demand and data synchronization was a tantalizing read. It tickled my brain buds not just for the technical acrobatic stunts but for the innovation that went into the making of this cool software. That was a simple toy which children can make to create a simple mechanical telephone. Two cans with a small hole in each one connected by a piece of string that is drawn through the hole and secured with a knot inside the can. One kid talks into one while the other listens. If the cans are pulled away from each other so that the string is tight the vibration is carried down the string from one can to the other. Then interestingly enough, I was able to speak a Japanese word for communication which let loose wild ideas and innovations among developers. Shortly afterwards Flash Communication Server was released in September 2002. If you are interested in the history of Flash Communication Server, then the Forward from Pritham Shetty is a must read. He is literally the man behind Flash Communication Server. Part I I have to say sorry that I don't have much to say about Part I of the book as I skipped over a lot of it. But then here is the short teaser, "If you are new and starting off with Flash Communication Server Application Development, read this part carefully so that you will know what you are dealing with, what each term means where each fits in. It gives gives a good foundation for

My company has been working with FCS for a while now, it really helps us communicate with customers and remote offices quite easily. So I picked up this book as soon as it came out, and it's done a great job of filling in the holes of my FlashCom knowledge. This is the book that I wish I had over a year ago when I was learning FCS for the very first time. Seriously. Instead I had some Macromedia books that read like owners manuals. Those were painful days. Anyhoo, there's tons of example code in there. From wonderfully explicit "Hello World" type stuff, to keeping track of people in a virtual lobby. They really show you how to get at the power of FCS quite well. Also, on a related note, one of the authors works on FCS for Macromedia, and his blog gives Flash Com info right from the horse's mouth: http://peldi.com/blog/