Apache Flex
Apache Flex, formerly Adobe Flex, is a software development kit (SDK) for the development and deployment of cross-platform rich web applications based on the Adobe Flash platform. Initially developed by Macromedia and then acquired by Adobe Systems, Adobe donated Flex to the Apache Software Foundation in 2011 and it was promoted to a top-level project in December 2012.
| Developer(s) | Apache Software Foundation and Adobe Systems |
|---|---|
| Initial release | June 20, 2004 |
| Stable release | 4.16.1
/ November 23, 2017 |
| Repository | Flex Repository |
| Written in | ActionScript, Java |
| Operating system | Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS, BlackBerry Tablet OS |
| Available in | Various between websites |
| Type | Software development kit application |
| License | 2012: Apache-2.0 2008: MPL-1-1 |
| Website | Apache Flex and Adobe Flex |
The Flex 3 SDK was released under the MPL-1.1 license in 2008. Consequently, Flex applications can be developed using standard Integrated development environments (IDEs), such as IntelliJ IDEA, Eclipse, the free and open source IDE FlashDevelop, as well as the proprietary Adobe Flash Builder.
In 2014, the Apache Software Foundation started a new project called FlexJS to cross-compile ActionScript 3 to JavaScript to enable it to run on browsers that do not support Adobe Flash Player and on devices that do not support the Adobe AIR runtime. In 2017, FlexJS was renamed to Apache Royale. The Apache Software Foundation describes the current iteration of Apache Royale as an open-source frontend technology that allows a developer to code in ActionScript 3 and MXML and target web, mobile devices and desktop devices on Apache Cordova all at once. Apache Royale is currently in beta development stage.