I’m sure you know by now after using Flash CS5 that, the IDE still doesn’t offer the view and comfort of scripting AS3 – especially, when coding using document classes style.

So, what is the best third party IDE, I used to develop my games and project?

Yes, like the image says – Flash Develop IDE for windows. What’s so special you say? Well, here are some of the features listed below.

• FlashDevelop’s code completion works with your and others classes.
• FlashDevelop completes the events that the object actually dispatches (as declared in the class metadatas).
• The appropriate Event class will automatically be imported.
• Has a nice docking interface that you can reorganize as you like.
• Manage your project using the Project panel: create classes from templates, embed assets.
• Support Flash CSs, Flex SDK, Mtasc/haXe+Swfmill are seamlessly integrated.
• Click in the tree to jump in the code or open imported classes.

Last but not least, IT’S FREE – go get it here!

Just in case for some of the Aptana IDE  users, you will realized the Iphone previewer plugin is missing from the downloads. This is because, it’s been removed due to poor support and popularity for it.

However, if you really want to use it, like my case. I have a copy here but, you have to install it manually by extracting the two folder and copy it into plugin folder where your Aptana IDE is installed.

Download Here

Over the weekends, I was trying to learn the ways on how to work faster without typing much codes and minimizing errors. The solution is learning to use Aptana’s Snippet View. Firstly, before we start – I would like to suggest rearranging your IDE into more simpler view.

I like to close unwanted views and combine three of my mostly used View into ones dock to the left side of the IDE namely, File, Project and Snippets.

Let’s move on, we will then need to create our own set of snippets – be it JS script, XML, HTML, CSS or whatever you are programming with this IDE.

First, create a new default web project. For this tutorial – I’m going guide you all in writing your first Javascript Alerter with user input support. Name the project Aptana Snippets. Proceed by creating snippets folder inside this project.

Now, inside the snippets folder add an empty js file. Let’s called it myMsgBox.js

DELETE everything including remarks statement generated by Aptana in myMsgBox.js

Type in the javascript like below for example.

/*
	category: Titoonic
	name: My Message Box
	toolbar: true
	language: text/javascript
	toolTip: My Message Box
	prompt(msg): Message
 
*/
alert("{$msg}");

Notice, the remarks are very context specific – which means you have to make sure you follow Aptana IDE snippet remark syntax to bind them to snippet view. Category : means the folder that will appear in Snippets View. You should create your own Category because, there’s a lot of snippets categories in there already – best to start one your own to avoid confusion.

Notice there’s also prompt(variablename): Title, by inserting this – you can assign variables to the actual snippet with {$variablename}. In our case {$msg} was our variable name. You can add more than one variable name by adding more prompt{variablename} : Title and matching it with the codes.

Once, you save – Aptana will create a reference based on your remark statement and update the Snippet view. Please make sure no space are above the remark statement – else it will not work.

Over the weekend, I was trying to redesign my Flash Actionscript IDE to look dark…looks like I’m addicted with Dark Themes now, my eye pupils are more relaxed on the new colors settings.  For those whom are using big CRT can consider this; what I heard was using darker themes tend to save energy and produce lesser heat. Anyway, take a look at my cool actionscript IDE now.

Here are my settings but, it does that few hours for your eyes to get accustomed with the sudden switch of light to dark theme. Is just like driving in heavy rain using sun glasses. Then again, you can always revert to default settings if you don’t like it.

Settings

Font Used (Windows) : Consolas
Font Size : 11
Foreground : #FFFFFF
Background : #333333
Identifiers : #0066CC
Keywords : #FF3399
Comments : #808080
Strings : #99CC00