Codename Gravity: Exciting new technology coming to Adobe Labs

Gravity is an ActionScript framework that offers a modularization strategy inspired by implementation of OSGi . In short, it’s a dynamic plug-in framework for ActionScript, Flex and AIR applications. While geared towards addressing challenges in the Enterprise RIA space, there’s nothing stopping developers from using this technology any time their project(s) call for modularization and loose coupling.

One exciting feature in the pipeline will be support for plug-ins compiled under different versions of the Flex SDK. This allows developers to roll out new functionality without having to refactor and re-compile existing code. (We are not using Flex modules under the hood) Another important goal was to avoid being prescriptive as to how you actually develop your application code. i.e. Gravity will “play nice” with the likes of Cairngorm and other frameworks/best-practices.

As for the history of this project, it’s been used internally @Adobe and in product dating back a couple of years now. (and yes, we deserve some lashings for not getting this out sooner) Throughout that time momentum of OSGi has continued onward and upward, particularly in the Java and mobile space. More recently, in the Flex realm with the release of Potomac. Potomac takes different approach than Gravity but is exciting to see and offers further validation of OSGi in the client space. (They’ve got a great IDE plug-in as well) The more the merrier!

The initial Gravity release will contain the framework, ASDocs and supporting documentation (not extensive at first, more of a quick start) as well as sample projects. Look for it on Adobe Labs in the coming 2-3 weeks! We’ll be following the open source model adopted by the Flex SDK team in due course.

Cheers,

Stacy

Possibly related posts: (automatically generated)

~ by Stacy Young on October 2, 2009.

Posted in AIR, Actionscript, Adobe, Cairngorm, Design Patterns, Flash, Flex, Gravity, OSGi, Open Source
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24 Responses to “Codename Gravity: Exciting new technology coming to Adobe Labs”

  1. We did an implementation back in 2007 – check out http://thunderheadxpler.blogspot.com/2007/10/flex-and-osgi.html

    Mansour said this on October 2, 2009 at 6:35 pm

  2. Very interesting, though how hard is the Flex dependency? Can it be used in a pure as3 project?

    arpit said this on October 2, 2009 at 6:43 pm

  3. There is no Flex dependency, can be used in pure as3.

    Stacy Young said this on October 2, 2009 at 6:46 pm

  4. @Mansour, nice!

    Stacy Young said this on October 2, 2009 at 6:47 pm

  5. Our implementation did depend on ModuleManager and Ilogger/Log

    Mansour said this on October 2, 2009 at 6:48 pm

  6. Looking forward to download it and trying it – we were very successful with that implementation – specially, when we match it with Spring/OSGi on the server.

    Mansour said this on October 2, 2009 at 6:51 pm

  7. @Mansour – Spring/OSGi on the server, right on. One sub project of Gravity provides for dependency injection as well including some unique features to handle the asynchronous nature of the client. Much more to come on that, trying to write some docs as we speak!

    Stacy Young said this on October 2, 2009 at 6:57 pm

  8. p.s. injection/exposing of services as well. (a la Spring Dynamic Modules) Although DI support of services won’t make the initial release.

    Stacy Young said this on October 2, 2009 at 6:59 pm

  9. I think it’s misleading (and probably a trademark infringement) to say this is an “Implementation of OSGi”. That is unless you intend to pass the TCK, which I’m sure would be impossible for a non-Java-based platform.

    Better perhaps to say you are developing a new module system for AS3 inspired by OSGi. That’s a great idea, but the devil is in the details. I look forward to seeing how many of OSGi’s features you have been able to carry over.

    Neil Bartlett said this on October 3, 2009 at 3:08 am

  10. Interesting that u said that – got slammed for saying that too, as they wanted me to “fully” implement the OSGi spec. Inspired would be a better term IMHO.

    Mansour said this on October 3, 2009 at 6:39 am

  11. Wow this is great. 2 new module systems for Flex in such a short space of time. I’m anxious to see how you guys approached it. For example, how you determine its time to load a bundle (in Potomac, we use ‘bundle-aware’ dependency injection).

    Perhaps in the future there will be opportunities for us to integrate or collaborate.

    -Chris
    http://www.potomacframework.org

    Chris Gross said this on October 3, 2009 at 6:54 am

  12. Excellent point, updated.

    Stacy Young said this on October 3, 2009 at 6:59 am

  13. Guys, this is REALLY exciting. I’m looking for a neat Flex modularity solution with a Spring/OSGi server side solution. I can’t wait to give Gravity a try !

    Fred said this on October 3, 2009 at 2:56 pm

  14. [...] Anyway, I just wanted to link to a post by Stacy Young on some tech they’re demoing at MAX next week, called Gravity. [...]

    SteveX Compiled » Blog Archive » Gravity for Flash said this on October 4, 2009 at 7:23 pm

  15. Exciting! when Gravity will release!?

    gembin said this on October 12, 2009 at 8:42 am

  16. [...] Codename Gravity: Exciting new technology coming to Adobe Labs [...]

    Poll: What Flex/AS3 framework(s) are you currently using? « The View from the Peanut Gallery said this on October 14, 2009 at 10:11 pm

  17. [...] über 450 Entwickler haben abgestimmt, welches AS3-Framework sie sich als Unterbau für Gravity (das dynamische Framework für ActionScript-, Flex- und Adobe AIR-Applikationen) vorstellen [...]

    Parsley goes Gravity ยป GELB der Powerflasher Blog said this on October 16, 2009 at 5:01 am

  18. I don’t see Gravity framework on Adobe Labs yet. Any update on the release date?

    Amit said this on November 5, 2009 at 11:11 pm

  19. Nov 19th!

    Stacy Young said this on November 5, 2009 at 11:45 pm

  20. Update: The release has been delayed. I will be relaying more info as soon as I know more.

    Stacy Young said this on November 19, 2009 at 9:39 am

  21. Any news on the release? I’m playing around with Potomac right now and can’t wait to get this between my fingers :)

    Norbert Kopcsek said this on December 9, 2009 at 7:44 am

  22. two weeks or two years?

    aiya said this on December 10, 2009 at 3:40 am

  23. Any update on this?

    Darren said this on January 16, 2010 at 2:01 pm

  24. Hi Darren, unfortunately no update yet. :\

    Stacy Young said this on January 24, 2010 at 11:55 am

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