The Flex 4 beta is out … confusing name changes and all.  InfoQ published my Top 10 Changes in Flex 4 article outlining the changes in the Flex 4 framework / platform.  Below is the top 10 categories.  Check out the full article for details.

1. Integration with Adobe Catalyst
2. Spark Component Architecture
3. MXML 2009
4. Improvements to View States
5. FXG Support
6. Skinning Enhancements
7. Updated Layout Model
8. Flash Builder 4
9. Compiler Performance
10. New Text Capabilities

Click here for the article.

We have posted our latest episode of Drunk On Software: Flex Jam 2009 Wrap Up. Enjoy!

This week, I posted an interview with Bruce Eckel on InfoQ.com.  Bruce is a legend in the Java community, who has moved on to working with Python and Flex.  When I first learned Java his book Thinking In Java was a huge help.  In the interview, he shares on a broad number of topics, including discussing his latest book, First Steps in Flex.

Check out the interview here: http://www.infoq.com/news/2009/05/bruce-eckel

In our latest episode of drunk’n madness, we interview Adam Flater.  He is the founder of the Merapi project, which provides a bridge between AIR and Java on the client.  Check it out at: http://www.drunkonsoftware.com/2009/05/01/episode-12-adam-flater/.

It appears that Flex Builder Linux is no longer being developed by Adobe.  I just finished the following post on InfoQ raising the issue: http://www.infoq.com/news/2009/05/flex-builder-linux-dead.

When you consider all of the steps Adobe has taken to court Java developers, who tend to care about open source, this seems like a really strange choice.  Why not just dedicate one or two resources to the project to keep up the perception that it is being worked on?  I doubt there would ever be much direct revenue for Adobe from Flex Builder Linux, but it does seem important in there overall strategy to court forward thinking developers.  I wonder if this is a direct result of the current economic situation, which is likely forcing Adobe (and most other software vendors) to put all there resource in areas with direct revenue.