This is a must have book for experienced actionscript programmers who want to learn actionscripting in depth. This book has been a fountain of knowledge for me. Truly inspirational.

If you are new to actionscrip, this book is not for you.

Thanks.

Ok. Every body knows that Flash 8/9 has now a better OOP than MX. Also, every body knows that Flash no longer use structures like movieClip.prototype etc.

But what Robert Penner's books offers is a great explanation about Math and its possibilities in Flash. Vectors, 2D and 3D simulation with an elegant and well formed codes. This book opens a great land to be explored. With a important difference: now you have a brilliant GPS! :-)


If you do not know how the stunning flash effects are made, get it. Every thing will be, after all, clear like water.

Knowledge directly from the man who we can thank for the easing equations used in many of the tweening classes out there. This book is great. The topics are somewhat diverse, and all very intriguing. The examples are written for AS1 however that doesn't matter that much unless you are concerned with applying the code in an OO manner, anyway it's kinda fun trying to re-write the code in AS2. This and Moock's books have been the most helpful in getting to understand what actionscript is all about.

Thank You Robert Penner!

What happens when a math whiz turned philosophy major learns how to program in Flash? The answer is one of the most interesting Flash programming books ever written. Robert Penner, well known for his experimental site, wrote a brilliant book outlining how to combine math and programming to create stunning visual effects in Flash MX.

This is not a programming reference. This book takes you beyond the world of simple ActionScript and introduces you to object oriented programming, motion in 2D, motion in 3D, physics, drawing/coloring, and his impressive array of case studies.

Robert Penner's writing style is clear and concise. If you are familiar with Flash programming, the book is an easy read. Following along with his explanations is a breeze. He introduces a concept and goes in great detail explaining how the concept can be created in Flash. The code is not simple ActionScript syntax that is easily understandable at first glance. A lot of the code involves Penner's own groundbreaking work and research.

What separates this book from the other Flash books is that he applies the concepts he teaches in case studies and example animations. What use is learning how to move objects in a three-dimensional space if there is no way to apply in the real world? The downloadable files for this book are filled with source files and example animations referred to throughout the book.

After reading this book, you will definitely gain a better understanding of Flash and programming. It delves into the complex Flash programming concepts that many other books shy away from. Even if you think you know all there is to know about ActionScript, this book will teach you a few interesting tricks you might not have known. Sure, ActionScript 3.0 is now out, and the book could use an update, but it is not that difficult to modernize the code. A big bonus to me was to actually have the algorithms on the four fascinating case studies - aurora borealis, snowstorm, fractal dancer, and cyclone. That information for a multimedia programmer is timeless and transcends implementation language.

granted, anyone who doesn't have a basic hold of flash development (that means actionscript folks) will be lost. However, those who do have a little experience should read it >TWICE. I have found it to be enlightening and enjoyable. Penners methods will help you get a better handle on Actionscript, OOP and even regular daily life. he has developed some really interesting ideas not just about how to use actionscript, but how to approach any substantial task. The book will bring you up to speed on the math concepts you need to create dynamic graphics (2D&3D coordinate systems and trigonometry) and teach you good practices in code desing and project management.
I hope he publishes a second edition (for ActionScript 2) soon, i'd love to see what he does with the language now that it has matured.