Attest PRO

There will be two versions of Attest going forward. The free version, which has been out for most of 2009, gets a bit beefed up with few new goodies in the near future, and the commercial version, called Attest PRO has many new features and content.

Holly and I are still always going to maintain the free versions of Attest for Flex developers to study for the Adobe Flex 3 with AIR certification, and eventually Flex 4, and so on. The current version is for non-commercial use only, so we decided to create a new version of the app, call it Attest PRO, and include a commercially available license for it. We've received many requests for people who wanted ways to help train employees, even have custom exams, and bulk licenses.

For Attest PRO 1.0, we have randomization of questions, the ability to turn on/off the timing per exam, show the answers during an exam if you choose, upgraded results view with better explanations, much more content, and a whole new section to read up on more material for the exam.

See Holly's excellent write up on her blog at devgirl.wordpress.com. You can read more about Attest PRO on it's new website at http://software.pxldesigns.com/attestpro/ check out some screenshots at http://software.pxldesigns.com/attestpro/screenshots
or visit the Adobe AIR Marketplace to learn more and download the app.

Holly and I were privileged enough to be part of the Try/Buy prerelease program to get this commercial version of the app out there. Many thanks to Shikha Bhargava who runs the AIR Marketplace and Randy McFarland and the rest of the AIR team who made the Try/Buy possible!

Important note:

It's my understanding that for the time being, sales on the AIR Marketplace are USA only. I believe they're working on that currently, but I'll post any updates as I get them. This is a beta program, so there may be bugs. As always, if you have any issues with a purchase, or running Attest PRO, please don't hesitate to contact me dave AT pxldesigns DOT com or use the contact form at www.pxldesigns.com

Technorati Tags: adobe flex certification, adobe max, air, attest, attest pro, marketplace, try buy

So to help spread the word and get Flexers linked up with projects, I was looking for an easier way to post the info rather than having to go to forums, etc (which is a big PIA). Turns out Greg Wilson's tblurb.com offers the perfect solution. Greg came up with tblurb as a way to post a larger amount of characters along with Twitter. Since Twitter only allows 140 characters, using tblurb enables you to share large snippets of code or Grannies brownie recipe, or whatever you like.

I was just contacted for a project today that sounded pretty good, and tblurb came to mind as the perfect way to share. So going forward, as I run across the good projects, I'll post them to tblurb through my Twitter account

dflatley

Technorati Tags: adobe, air, flash, flex, jobs, projects, tblurb, work

Both of us are inundated with client work at the moment, but the vote went well and we found the time to get these new exams out. So hopefully, for those studying for the Flex 3 with AIR certification, you'll have much more here in the way of study material. Along with releasing new questions and answers periodically, we plan on implementing most of the other great feedback we received from users when time permits. Until then...it's busy being a Flexer go get certified!

Technorati Tags: adobe, air, attest 1.8.5, certification, exam, flex

We compiled all the feedback we've received and created a list of the top requests. Now's your chance to vote for the feature you want to see most. Holly created this poll based on our list, and we're going to watch the results to decide on which features to turn out first. Eventually, we want all of them done but time is hard to come by, so we're going to be breaking them down into reasonable chunks as we progress.

If you have any other features in mind you'd like to see in Attest, as always, feel free to comment below or follow up on Holly's blog.

Basically, the new features we're looking at break down like this:

• Learning feature - is an un-timed practice exam with a "show answer" feature that provides much more learning material
• Community Area - You'll see This will be the fun stuff.
• Web version - when 2.0 is released, we're going to have the full web version vs the AIR version so you can study online
• More questions/answers - tougher questions with multiple levels in the learning feature and exam area

Ready? Set? VOTE!

Technorati Tags: 2.0, adobe, air, attest, certification, exam, flex, mock, practice

Alas, the two companies have gotten together officially to make developing Flash applications – both on Facebook and off through Facebook Connect – quicker and easier with the ActionScript 3.0 Client Library for Facebook Platform.

Adobe's site

Facebook AS3 API on Google code

Technorati Tags: adobe, as3 api, facebook, flex, google code

The entire Tour de Flex application is posted online at Adobe's site todaytoo, so that's two places you can grab great source code and working samples. But the coolest part that you may not know is that you, as a developer, can use the Tour de Flex plugin right inside of Eclipse.

Tour de Flex Eclipse Plugin

When working on Attest, this was a massive help when looking for samples. While you're working, you can simply open the TDF tab inside Flex Builder 3 and quickly search for samples of just about any kind of Flex/AIR code you can think of. When you click on a sample, the actual TDF AIR application will open up along side FB3 so you can see what you're looking for.

The Eclipse plugin was written by Holly Schinsky, who's been going nuts with Flex/AIR community driven applications lately As you may know, she's also to thank for much of the work on Attest. I already knew what a huge help Tour de Flex was for development work, but when Holly mentioned the plugin it really became apparent. I used to comb the livedocs for working samples, but with this plugin it's easier and quicker to find just what you're looking for. So go down load it and give it a whirl!

Try outTour de Flex

1. Tour de Flex AIR install
2. Tour de Flex Online
3. To install the TDF plug-in, add the following URL to your Eclipse software update sites: http://tourdeflex.adobe.com/eclipse

Much thanks to Holly Schinsky, Greg Wilson & team, and Adobe for providing Tour de Flex, and keep the samples coming

Technorati Tags: adobe, air, eclipse plugin, flex, flex examples, tour de flex, tour de flex online version

• Attest was completely rebuilt from the ground up in Adobe AIR
• It's FREE for non-commerical use
• There will be regular updates, bug fixes, enhancements, and errata corrections for future versions.

This version, and all versions going forward are a joint effort between myself and Holly Schinsky of Rich Desktop Solutions, Inc., without whom Attest would still be sitting around deep in the guts of my hard-drive, waiting to be released Holly was an enormous help with writing questions and answers, research, programming, making enhancements, styling, killing bugs, testing, and especially motivation! Many of you will know her from her work on Adobe's Tour de Flex AIR application. She's an awesome developer to work with and we'll definitely be doing more projects together in the very near future. After you go and get certified, be sure to drop her a comment or two and thank her for helping out. Without her help, you may not have seen the next version of Attest until Flex 8 is out You can read more about Tour de Flex and Attest on Holly's blog here.

You can download Attest 1.5 from the new sub-domain software.pxldesigns.com/attest

We're calling this version a beta because we wanted to add more to it, but this was the quickest way we could release the app for the community. Now you have something solid to study with finally, I know haha!

Another boring and brief history of Attest. When I first wrote the application, it was built in Apollo, I mean way back. At the time Apollo wasn't really feasible to release Attest with, so I switched to C#. Bingo bongo done, here it is built in AIR again, which makes things cross-platform, easily upgradable and expandable, any errata can be fixed pronto, and it's free for the community (non-commercial use), not to mention a lot prettier

So for all of you waiting for so long, enjoy! Let Holly or me know of any issues, bugs, errata, etc, and especially any cool ideas you have for the app. We want to hear them all!

Technorati Tags: adobe air, adobe flex 3 certification, attest, mock exam

I have to apologize to Attest users for taking so long with getting this out. It's 100% me working on every aspect of it, and with client workloads and so on, it's been a rough ride. Anyway, now for the good stuff for those of you waiting:

Attest 1.5 Fun Facts:

• It's written in AIR, as it originally was, although none of you knew that I'll explain more upon its release
• I'd estimate it's about 85% done with an ETA of 2 weeks roughly. Don't hold me to that! But I've been burning the midnight oil to get it out quickly ( at least most of it )
• If you're a regular shmoe, Attest 1.5 and further versions will cost you nada. It will be released under two Creative Commons licenses (see below for more details)
• This release is only part of what I had originally planned for Attest. There will hopefully be much more in the future, and possible expansion to cover other Adobe exams ( depending on interest level, alignment of stars, karma, luck, etc ) but I'm still waiting for a few details to filter through before I go on. Stay tuned...
• There will be regular updates, bug fixes, enhancements, and errata corrections for future versions.
• Hint: Future versions will include the "learning tool" concept, but this release will be purely the mock exams just like the old version
• I'm tired and my brain hurts...

The two Creative Commons licenses for Attest 1.5 will be "Attribution Non-Commercial No Derivatives" for non-commercial use, and "Attribution No Derivatives" for commercial use. In other words, if you're not a large telecommunications company, feel free to download and use Attest 1.5 all you like. The economy sucks right now, but if you're a kick butt Flex developer, you're in good shape. So if you're a Flex developer who's interested in passing the Flex 3 + AIR cert, this is what the doctor ordered.

How Attest is looking right now:
I'm currently testing like mad, double checking my math for scoring ( always a scary thing ), making aesthetic tweaks, still combing over Q's and A's, of course those last minute "hey, this would be cool!" kind of ideas that always add time. I actually surprised myself with how involved the code was when I first wrote the app in C#. Translating to AS3 was easy enough, but I had forgotten how complicated some of it was. I don't want to release crap, so I still want to test until I'm satisfied, and I have my shrinking TODO list that I'm flying through. Hopefully, things will remain as calm as they were for a bit more so I can at least get this part out. This week was very hectic, but by my standards it's practically been a vacation ( hence my blog posts at 2:00am ).

Some Attest History
When 1.5 is released, keep in mind it will grow to be much bigger. This release will be so I can hurry up and get something solid out there for you all to study. It's funny in a way, but with all the emails asking about the next version it's overwhelming ~ ha! No worries. Hope you all enjoy it, as much as taking exams can be enjoyable anyway (I hope it helps).

Got Ideas? Suggestions?
If you have ideas for Attest, questions, concerns, by all means let me know. I really appreciate all the feedback I've had since the release of Attest 1.0 in Nov 07, and these future releases will hopefully make Attest users much happier! Literally, almost every day my inbox has at least a few messages about Attest, people letting me know they passed the real Flex exam, praise, comments, scores, and ideas.

Some good people in the past suggested Q's and A's of their own, if you have some killer questions/answers and want to see them in the next version, toss them my way. If they're good and accurate I'll toss them in and you'll get full credit for writing them within the app and on the site.

On a side note, I've always felt that Adobe never really had enough study material, as opposed to Macromedia back in the day. So if Attest has helped you, if you dig it, if you want more study/learning material specific to Adobe exams and products, be vocal. Now's your chance to speak your mind. If you're a Graphic Designer and you want to see a Photoshop practice exam, come forth and be a witness, can I get an amen?

Until then, rest assured I'm giving all the time I can to get this version out as quickly as possible. Best estimate is two weeks, but it could easily flow to 3-4 if I run into unexpected bugs, or client projects ( which have to come first ), or if I don't get enough beer. Will post any further updates as I move forward.

Technorati Tags: adobe flex 3, attest, certification, mock exam

The one I just heard about is 3 months of remote work in Flex, AS3, C#, and SQL. The project's not through PXL Designs, but I'm thinking 2009 is the year I will be filling seats (at some point). But I wanted to post it up and share some of the Flex goodness. Since I hear about a lot of great gigs, I figured I'd give a holler for any takers.

Almost certainly, at some point this year I'm going to be looking to team up with other developers on some projects, but I figured in the meantime let me just give a shout out for anyone looking for the good gigs that I can't fill. Can't complain about being booked

So if you're qualified, interested and available, give me a yell.

Technorati Tags: Adobe Flex, c#, jobs, remote work, sql

Just about every day since Adobe released the Flex 3 Certification Exam, I get emails about the availability of Attest V 2.0 for Flex 3. Sorry to say, I've been SO busy I haven't been able to hit the deadline for Adobe's release of the exam, but it's coming....it's coming!

Attest V 2.0

1. If you liked Attest before, you're going to love it now
2. You'll love the price of Attest even more
3. Because activating Attest in version one was such a pain, there won't be any activations anymore
4. Attest won't be alone for long, it's going to have friends eventually. This next release can be easily updated to include many extra goodies (in the future)
5. It'll be an exam simulator PLUS a learning tool, and will include new content in upgrades

Because of some of the pains I've run into with the licensing, the program's business model is completely redone. I can say you're going to dig it, and it will continue to provide value for years to come.

Attest got quite a following since its release, more than I expected, and because of that, it's my aim to make it a very valuable asset to the community and grow the project to become something much bigger. For those inquiring and emailing, bear with me as I work the strings and turn the corporate wheels to get version 2 out.

Technorati Tags: adobe flex 3, attest, certification, exam, version 2