I recently got amf3 features into amfphp which means it is finally compatible with Flex 2’s RemoteObject tag. Sweet. While I am waiting for feedback on these new features and iron out the issues, I’d like to get started on getting Flex Data Services functionality in amfphp. Flex Data Services, from what I gather of it, can do crazy things like managing remote SharedObjects, keeping clients in sync on recordsets, paging results, and implement remote data-binding-like functionality. Really nice stuff. Now I’d like to bring at least some of that into amfphp. We may not be able to replicate everything in the framework, but if we could only get SharedObject functionality in for example, I am sure many would be ecstatic.

That’s where you come in. I need someone to document the different types of messages that can be sent and received from Flex Data Services. All you need is Flex Builder, Flex Data Services, and the latest copy of Charles to help me out. It should be as simple as making some sample Flex apps, firing up Charles and doing a couple of operations to figure out what the messages mean. I would need the results in a text format, something along the lines of:

Flash player sends flex.messaging.io.CommandMessage with empty body, operation 5. FDS sends back flex.messaging.io.AcknowledgeMessage with empty body, correlationId set to CommandMessage.messageId. Interpretation: Ping message

Flash player sends flex.messaging.io.CommandMessage with empty body, operation 0, when mx:Subscriber.subscribe call is made FDS sends back ??? Interpretation: Subscribe message

I would like to do it myself but unfortunately I don’t know (much) Java and I can’t get Flex Data Services installed on my laptop because my hard drive is full, and I also am lacking in time.

Getting Flex Data Services into amfphp would be a great thing for developers. IMHO, Flex Data Services is rather difficult to approach, yet it is very powerful. If people could get FDS functionality while not requiring a dedicated server to host FDS, it would mean more developers could get into the game. It would also create a simple migration path from amfphp to FDS, which would be beneficial for me, you, the users, the developers, Adobe, Ted Patrick, your mom, etc. etc. The person(s) that will help me in this will get my (and the community’s) eternal thankfulness, and a warm-fuzzy-feeling inside. If you’re interested, please comment, or send me an email at pm AT 5etdemi DOT com.