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  Hi All!

  We wanted to post some mockups (thanks balsamiq!) to show some ideas we've had for changing our SDK package. We'd like to make it an AIR application, rather than the .zip you currently get. I'll list out our thinking :

PROS :

  • This gives us the opportunity to consolidate the way the SDK is navigated/explored - much easier to see what's there than a zip
  • Instead of installing 2 separate dev tools (the Dev Console and the LocalConnection Server), we'll just bundle them within this master app - only one AFCS app to install in your applications dirs.
  • We'll use AIR's auto-update so that when we release a new SDK drop, the app will let you know, and download it for you.
  • The ability to include Video Tutorials, Docs, and running Sample Apps, right in your face, launchable from within the app. A little bit of Tour De Flex inspiration here.
  • A little more polish and branding is just nicer than a zip. If we only had a logo...

CONS :

  • The user will have to install an AIR app right upon download, in order to get the SDK (this might scare some off?).
  • The idea that you'll install the app, then need to install the SDK contents, is a little weird, but not too much.
  • It's dev time we could be spending on something else.

Clearly, we're leaning on the PRO side right now, or I wouldn't be posting this. Here's the set of mockups - CLICK TO SEE FULL SIZE :

SDK HOME : Lets you put the SDK contents wherever you'd like (the SWCs, docs, etc).

1-IntroScreen.png

VIDEO TUTORIALS (should say that, not "Welcome Videos") : Will stream Video Tutorials for getting started, overview, common pitfalls, etc. Note - will require a net connection, as we're not including the videos as part of the package (too big!).

2-WelcomeVids.png

LIBRARIES : Easy access to the SWCs/Source below. Clicking the buttons will open an explorer/finder window to the locations of the libs.

3-Libraries.png

DOCUMENTATION : Making it easier to find the various doc resources (including links to these forums!).

4-Documentation.png

DEVELOPER TOOLS : Will launch the Dev Console or the LocalConnection Server, in separate windows. No need to install 2 AIR apps to have access to these tools - they're right in the SDK Package app.

5-DeveloperTools.png

SERVER INTEGRATION : Many people were missing that these even exist. Explain them here, link to the docs, launch a window to find them.

6-ServerIntegration.png

SAMPLE APPLICATIONS : Includes a live, running AFCS app (TBD, but likely something that connects devs together somehow). Also includes source, and shows where to find the rest of our sample apps' source. Once we have time, we'd like this to be able to run all of our example apps.

7-SampleApplications.png


So that's it - please let us know if you think this is a good idea. Any suggestions, comments, etc, are most appreciated.

  Thanks

   nigel