If you're planning on attending my BFlex session tomorrow on creating AIR application updaters, please click here to download the lab assets we will be using. I will have the files available on USB drives tomorrow but grabbing the assets now will get you all prepared. Be sure to also check out the prerequisites and software requirements on my session page on the BFlex Web site.

If you aren't attending my lab but you are interested in working through the content yourself, you can also download the assets. I've included my slides, a 30-page step-by-step instructions doc, and all the source code.

Update: September 12, 2010
Thanks to Joey from Nashville for pointing out I forgot to include the instructions doc in the download. I've fixed this and uploaded new download assets.

A few things have changed with BFlex over the last week that have led me to pick up an Adobe AIR session I wasn't originally slated to teach. Other than the illustrious Simon Free's AIR session on mobile development, my session will be the only one focused on Adobe's Integrated Runtime. The downside (if there is one) to this schedule change is I don't have a specific session prepared yet. If you are going to be at BFlex I would love to hear your ideas for a hands-on session written for intermediate developers.

Here are a few ideas from myself and my twitter followers, feel free to provide your thoughts in the comments:

--creating an awesome AIR application updater that includes a force update feature
--creating screenshots of specific parts of an app and providing drag-and-drop to desktop functionality
--using the file promises API in AIR 2 to write remote files to disk
--something else AIR 2 related (native processes, etc.)

Finally, if you haven't seen the new BFlex/BFusion site (powered by Mura) released today, go check it out.

If you weren't fortunate enough to attend CFUnited this year you've been given a second chance so-to-speak. Tim Cunningham has posted videos of many of the sessions he attended. You can check out all the videos here, or go straight to my caching talk here.

My CFUnited 2010 presentation materials (slides and code) have been uploaded and are ready for download. If you are interested in learning about new caching features in ColdFusion 9 feel free to hit the download link and view the slides after the break.

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Last week I gave a presentation to the Connecticut ColdFusion User Group (CFUGitives) on integrating BlazeDS and ColdFusion 9. This is the same talk I've given other places without the hands-on aspect. I've zipped up my slides and code and made them available for download here. When you extract the downloaded zip file you should see the following folder structure.

• /FlashBuilderProject/FlexMessaging.fxp (a full Flash Builder 4 project)
• /Slides/IntegratingBlazeDS_ColdFusion.pdf (my slides in PDF format)

To get started, import the FlexMessaging.fxp file into Flash Builder 4 as a new Flex project. This will setup nearly every aspect of the project. I typically customize my Flex 3 projects in Flash Builder with two other settings. Right-click on your new project folder and select properties. In the resulting window, select Flex Build Path. Change the Framework linkage setting to "Merged into code" and add an appropriate Output folder URL (this setting is located at the bottom of the window). I put my project in my Web root, so I typically set Output folder URL to "http://localhost/project_name/bin-debug/. Adding this setting will allow you to build the project and run it in your default browser with a localhost URL versus a filesystem specific URL.

More after the break.

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This coming Monday, February 15 I'll be giving my ColdFusion 9 and BlazeDS presentation to the Connecticut ColdFusion User Group. It's all going down online via Adobe Connect so fire up your browser at 6:00pm CST on Monday if you want to be part of the fun. All the relevant meeting info, such as the Adobe Connect URL, is located on the CFUGitives site.

But, here's a quick presentation description:

In this presentation Aaron will show you how ColdFusion 9 and BlazeDS are integrated into one server. Aaron will demonstrate how to build a one-way, real-time messaging application from start to finish, using Flash Builder 4 beta and ColdFusion Builder beta.

Say it with me: SlideSix, SlideSix, SlideSix. The other day I was talking with another frequent presenter who was mentioning sharing his slides on a popular online site that rhymes with "wide snare." I asked him why he used the particular site and he really had no idea. I asked him if he had heard of SlideSix and he said no.

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I've uploaded all the content for my BFlex 2009 talk on integrating BlazeDS and ColdFusion 9. The download includes my slides, walkthrough instructions, and all the finalized code. Hit the link below to download the zip file and thanks to all those who attended!

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I've uploaded all the content for my BFusion 2009 talk on new caching features in ColdFusion 9. The download includes my slides, walkthrough instructions, and all the finalized code. Hit the link below to download the zip file and thanks to all those who attended!

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I've finally gotten around to uploading my CFUnited 2009 slides to my site so folks can download all the assets. Included in the download are PDF versions of all my slides, snippets of all the code used, a Flex Project Archive of the AIR application, and instructions on how to use the code. Just press right here to download everything in a zip file. I've also embedded my slides from SlideSix below or you can click this link to view the slides directly on SlideSix.com.

To all those who attended my presentation, thanks for being a great, captive audience. It was a lot of fun to spend an hour with you doing something I love to do, write code and teach.

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Tomorrow morning the 615Flex group (Nashville Flex User Group) is hosting a Flex/Flash Camp with six speakers giving one hour talks. I'll be giving a presentation on integrating BlazeDS, Flex/AIR, with a little ColdFusion mixed in for fun. After giving an overview of the technology behind BlazeDS and how BlazeDS messaging works I'll dive into the construction of an application in real-time. The app will demonstrate the use of BlazeDS messaging from a browser application to remote AIR clients. Registration for the event is closed but given its a free event I'd be willing to bet we'd find a place for you if you want to come out. More info is here.

I've uploaded the supporting application files for my presentation at BFlex yesterday (link below). The download includes a Flex Builder project archive which has all the Flex/AS, ColdFusion, JavaScript, and HTML that are needed to create the AIR messaging application. The zip also includes a PDF with all the steps needed to get up and running with the application. In other words, everything you'd need to build the application from start to finish is included in the download.

Later today or tomorrow I'll blog my thoughts on BFusion and BFlex as I'm trying to pack things up and get on the road for home.

Click the link below to download the files:
AIR Messaging Files

I've posted my presentation from MiniMAX in the Presentation area of the main part of the site. The download includes the presentation slides (in PDF format) and the sample application I demo'd. Thanks to the 100+ that came out tonight, it was fun.

Click here to download the zip file.

After a short holiday break (hey we had parties!) the Nashville CF User Group will be kicking off the 2006 year this Thursday, January 26 at 6:30pm CST. I'll be giving a short presentation regarding last year and the results of our 2005 user group survey. Then, we'll discuss some things planned for 2006.

So come on out, have some free pizza and coke, and join in the fun. Full details regarding the meeting (including directions to the location) can be found on the official NCFUG Web site here.