JavaScript Workshop » Interview with Sas Jacobs

Sas Jacobs is a web developer who set up her own business, Anything Is Possible, in 1994, working in the areas of web development, IT training, and technical writing. The business works with large and small clients building web applications with ASP.NET, Flash, XML, and databases. Sas has wrote a number of books such as Beginning XML with DOM and Ajax, Foundation XML for Flash and Object-Oriented ActionScript 3.0. She is also an instructor, speaker and avid photographer. Sas was nice enough to give me some of her time in discussing Flash and its use on the web.

JW: With ActionScript 3.0 available in the latest version of Flash (version 9), care to give us a few highlights of some of the new features in AS 3.0?

Sas Jacobs: AS 3.0 has some major changes to the language so I'll just touch on a couple of them. One of my favourite new features is the way XML works in AS3.0. The XML class has been replaced with a new AS3.0 version that supports E4X expressions. This means that it's easier to navigate through an XML document using node names. You can also add filtering expressions which makes it much easier to target content.

I'm also a big fan of the new URLLoader and HTTPService classes that allow developers to load several different types of content. In addition to the usual name-value variable pairs, you can load plain text as well as XML content.

JW: If a client has no particular preference, how do you determine if their UI would be best suited for Flash or other technologies (XHTML/CSS/Ajax)?

Sas Jacobs: I love Flash but I think it is best used where there's a specific need. Obviously, Flash is better suited to multimedia content and in situations where you don't have any control over browser versions and types. I frequently use it to reduce page size where I have a lot of images to load dynamically. My preference is for Flash over Ajax but I think that's my own particular bias and skill set.

JW: Hopefully the days of Flash intro and splash pages are over. Do you see any new misuses of Flash on the web or are people finally realizing how to use it properly?

Sas Jacobs: On the whole, I think that Flash is used well on the web. However, I've seen quite a few sites where there is an introductory page offering an XHTML and Flash version. When the user chooses Flash, the site opens in a pop-up window without chrome. I'm not a fan of that approach at all because I don't think it's very useable.

JW: When you were first learning Flash was there anything that you found initially difficult to master?

Sas Jacobs: When I first discovered Flash, I was working with ASP, XHTML and CSS. The concept of a timeline was alien to me as were some of the basic animation concepts. I think mastering the basics was my biggest learning curve!

JW: With the recent emergence of Flex the past year or so, do you think that web developers will move towards Flex for RIA instead of Flash? Do you foresee overlapping usage?

Sas Jacobs: Definitely. I think we'll see a real divide between developers who are concerned with building applications and designers who are more concerned with look and feel. Let's face it, prior to Flex it was pretty cumbersome to build applications in Flash. Flex gives me a similar approach to the one I use in Visual Studio .NET so I'm very comfortable with using it for application development.

JW: Do you feel that web developers shy away from learning Flash because it still looks like a designer tool?

Sas Jacobs: I think people may shy away from Flash because the interface looks complicated at first glance, probably the same reason that people initially struggle with as a product like Photoshop. It's not easy to pick up Flash and just start working with it as the interface isn't intuitive without an understanding of some basic concepts. Once people come to terms with these basics, the interface suddenly makes a lot more sense and Flash becomes easier.

JW: How has your keen eye for photography helped you in your design/development work? And where can you get this “eye”, my pictures are horrible.

Sas Jacobs: I'm sure your pictures are fine! I wouldn't class myself as a designer so I can't claim that my designs are influenced by my photography or vice versa!

I've had experience in several different disciplines that I think give me a broad approach to multimedia. I've been a working musician most of my life, and in addition to still photography, have also worked with digital video. I think all of these experiences have naturally lead me to Flash.

I think you develop your eye over time and experience. There are some basic tips that everyone can follow to make their photos look better but I guess to be a photographer you really have to take a lot of photos.

JW: We all know that you love Flash, but are there things that frustrate you about the tool or wish could be better? Future enhancements maybe?

Sas Jacobs: I'm working a lot in Flex now as it's much easier to build interfaces that way. I guess it's frustrations relating to Flash application development that have encouraged me to make the shift. Flash really isn't a robust application development tool in the same way that Flex is. Whilst you can use it to build applications, the same tasks are 100% easier in Flex.

JW: I have noticed many well known designers/developers living in Australia. How is it possible for you to work with the most beautiful scenery in the word all around you?

Sas Jacobs: On behalf of all Aussies, thanks for the great compliment. My problem is not finding time to work, it's finding time to stop working and enjoy my country! I am passionate about traveling but am always glad to come home. I am very biased and believe that I live in one of the most lovely countries and cities on the planet.

There aren't too many places where you can drive to a major wine producing area, or see clean, white sandy beaches 20 minutes from your home! I can go for a run along the river in the heart of the city and see wild dolphins, pelicans and many other types of birds. It's a magical environment!

JW: Thank you so much for your time.
Sas Jacobs: Thanks for the opportunity to respond to your questions.