Integrating Flex with Java Using Spring and BlazeDS
by Andrew Powell
Level 201
The goal of any Adobe Flex application is to bring a richer experience to the user. An essential part of these experiences that can be sometimes overlooked is the data. Getting the data into this new generation of applications is essential to their survival. If the application functions well but gives the user nothing, then it's a loss. This is where BlazeDS comes into the equation. BlazeDS harnesses the power of Java Platform, Enterprise Edition (Java EE) Web applications to pull dynamic data into Flex applications. Quickly and efficiently, BlazeDS helps data move from the middle tier to the Flex client.
As easy as BlazeDS makes it to move data from the middle tier to the rich Internet application (RIA) client, the Spring Framework makes it even easier. This framework is fast becoming the de facto standard for integrating enterprise services at the Java EE middle tier and allows for the easy integration of services like the Hibernate object relational mapping framework for data access, Java Messaging Service (JMS), and now Action Message Format (AMF) remoting through BlazeDS. This enhancement to BlazeDS is available separately from the core Spring Framework as Spring BlazeDS Integration.
This article walks you through setting up an application with the new Spring BlazeDS Integration as well as connecting the Flex application to the middle tier.
Read more of this article by buying Flex Authority Volume 2 Issue 2!