Platforms, programming languages, operating software – if you're a web developer, these are just some of the things that you need to keep up with. If you're not updated with the latest that technology has to offer, your competitors will leave you biting the dust. The good news is that software companies and system developers release new versions of the products that they are offering on a regular basis. On the other hand, if there is a free and open source application, the online community will ensure that everyone can gain access to the latest developments in that particular application.

Here, we will take a look at the Eclipse-based Adobe Flash Builder 4 – the previous version of which is the Adobe Flex Builder 3. What type of software is this and what are the additional features in the new version which you will not find in the previous release? Read on to find out.

Adobe & Salesforce Joins Forces on Flash Builder

As mentioned earlier, the Adobe Flash Builder 4 is actually a more current version of the Adobe Flex Builder 3. Flex Builder is an IDE or an Integrated Development Environment which is Eclipse-based. The purpose of Flex Builder is to develop rich Internet applications, cross-platform desktop applications and other applications which are meant to improve the browsing experience of an online user.

The latest version of Adobe Flash Builder is actually a collaboration between two companies, Adobe Systems and Salesforce. With the scheduled release of the Flash Builder, it will be easier for developers to add AIR and Flash interfaces to applications for Force.com.

According to Salesforce Product Marketing Director Eric Stahl, these two applications have always been used together – but it wasn’t that easy. With the help of Flash Builder, the following functionalities will be enabled:

• Data visualization for Force.com business applications.
• Development of Cloud-based rich Internet applications.
• Desktop synchronization for applications which are occasionally connected.

Now that Adobe Systems and Salesforce have already delivered a preview edition of the Flash Builder, what other things should users expect? The good news is that there are a multitude of features which are included with Flash Builder 4. First, there’s the WYSIWYG editor which includes built-in code editors so that MXML components and applications can easily be modified.

Second, there is the debugger feature for Flash Builder which is of the interactive kind – it lets the user go through the step-by-step process of inspecting variables. Profiling of statistical information and name change are the other features that you should expect from Flash Builder 4.

Another good thing about the merging of forces between Adobe Systems and Salesforce is that it will be easier for developers to build Force.com back-ends which are fronted with Flash-based RIAs. As you can see, there are a multitude of excellent features which are a definite improvement from the Adobe Flex Builder 3 to the Flash Builder 4. Its final version will be made available in the market on the early part of 2010 – so it's something that Flash users should definitely look forward to.