How do I learn about AS3 Design Patterns?

Posted At : January 10, 2008 9:00 AM | Posted By : Jeffry Houser
Related Categories: Flex,Professional

This question comes in from a reader. You did know that I love to answer reader questions, right?

What is your recommendation for learning about AS3 design patterns? I looked at the books offered at Amazon, but the reviews are somewhat disappointing for the 2-3 titles about this.

I'd say that Design Patterns are just approaches, or solutions, to certain situations. In most cases they are not language specific. Most of the design patterns I know about I did not learn from books, but by talking to people and looking at code written by others.

I have read most of the Head First Design Patterns book (and plan to finish it someday). It's a great introductory read, so I strongly recommend that. I haven't tackled the Gang of Four design pattern book, but it is often considered the design pattern bible.

A search on Amazon.com revealed three books that would target AS3 and Design patterns:

I have not read any of these, but the Amazon ratings seem favorable. Has anyone read any of the AS3 books? Does anyone else have any recommendations for AS3 and Design Patterns?

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Nate Kidwell's Gravatar I read both of the AS3 design patterns books and was disappointed by the Oreilly offering. I felt that the authors were not strong programmers, not familiar with Actionscript, and not even good at design patterns.

Advanced ActionScript 3 with Design Patterns was decent and also gave a good run-though of e4x and RegExps.

Any Java Patterns book should help with AS3, though. I'm currently reading Refactoring to Patterns and it's an absolute joy.
# Posted By Nate Kidwell | 1/10/08 10:33 AM
Christopher Keeler's Gravatar Jeff,
Thanks for posting my question.
I went ahead and got the Head First book you mentioned to start out with.
I'll let you know how it went when I see you at 360|Flex.
Thanks.
# Posted By Christopher Keeler | 1/10/08 10:38 AM
David Tucker's Gravatar In my opinion the "Advanced Actionscript 3 with Design Patterns" By Joey Lott and Danny Patterson is the superior book. I have read both, and I feel confident that beginning and advanced programmers will find this book most helpful.
# Posted By David Tucker | 1/10/08 1:43 PM
Jensa's Gravatar I'd recommend the Head First Design Patters book as well. These things need to be presented the right way and this book is quite clever at it. I't not Actionscript, but you'll easily transfer the principles.
# Posted By Jensa | 1/11/08 3:29 AM
Fabian's Gravatar You should check this....
http://code.google.com/p/insnet-lab/
# Posted By Fabian | 10/11/08 6:33 AM
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