Alpha geeks reverse-engineer ActionScript Message Format
Emberton, 2/20/2003 -

Flash Remoting for PHP is born.

Flash Remoting's primary attraction is that it uses a binary transfer protocol (AMF / ActionScript Message Format) to send ActionScript objects directly over a HTTP connection. Instead of going through the process of converting objects to XML or variable pairs, sending, and then parsing back out to objects in the Flash Player, AMF just carries the object as a clump of ready-to-use binary data.

This is all good, except that up until recently using Flash Remoting meant having to purchase proprietary software from Macromedia. Return on research investment is definitely important, but the proprietary approach is such a retardant in today's marketplace. Let's face it, protocols have become commodified and they're going to stay that way. The genie is out of the botte.

And so, in fine reverse-engineering tradition, the AMF-PHP project is now officially up at Sourceforge.net. The website isn't completed yet, but there are already plenty of materials to download. Here are some related excerpts:

"AMF is short for Actionscript Message format.  This is a format that Macromedia developed for their Flash remoting products.  It's a binary format that allows you to pass arrays/objects to and from a server."

"Ubiquity, stability, and platform neutrality make PHP the perfect server side scripting language for building server side applications, handling business logic, and connecting to web services. Ubiquity, stability, and platform neutrality make Macromedia Flash MX the perfect tool for deploying rich internet front ends. Flash remoting for PHP offers a seamless connection between the flash client and php server applications.

Flash remoting for PHP enables objects in PHP to become objects in actionscript, almost magically! AMF-PHP takes care of all the data-type conversions, serialization, and other client-server details. This provides a great way of connecting rich media clients with data and logic living on the server. While at the same time allowing designers to design and programmers to program."

Discover more at: http://amfphp.sourceforge.net/

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