Flash Developer Job Description
Flash developers are individuals who have dedicated a great deal of time and energy (often in self-study) to learning Adobe's Flash program to such an extent that they are capable of developing applications and programs using Flash. Flash developers are often well-rounded in the various aspects of using Flash for web or applications, but all are highly proficient with ActionScript 2.0 and 3.0
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History
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The first Flash developers created what are today considered very simple interactive media for websites such as banners and navigation tools such as buttons. When Macromedia created Flash in 1996, its use was much more limited than it is today. Those who were proficient in it, using ActionScript 1.0, were limited in their employment and usage opportunities until the program was more widely adopted.
Geography
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One of the best aspects of becoming a Flash developer is the ability to work anywhere in the world. Since Flash is used primarily online, professional developers are often able to arrange for telecommuting schedules or to work freelance, and avoid working in office environments. Flash developers are employed in every country where advanced websites are created including the Middle and Far East, Europe, Africa, Australia and all of North and South America.
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Misconceptions
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There are some common misunderstandings about what Flash developers do. Many people believe that they sit in a room and code ActionScript all day. Those who have seen Flash on the web sometimes believe that Flash developers spend their time designing annoying banner ads or pop-up advertisement for businesses. Because Flash is such an incredibly well-rounded program capable of applications development, Flash developers often have to be equally as well-rounded or highly specialized. Some developers work exclusively for mobile devices, enabling Flash content to be delivered to cell phones, iPods and other devices. Others work in video game development and may specialize in animation, cinematics, or game mechanics. Still other Flash developers work in advertising and marketing, designing methods to place products in front of consumers either on television, the web, or even on interactive billboards.
Knowledge
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Basic Flash knowledge begins with understanding the purpose and scope of the program, including simple animation, motion and shape tweening and applying effects using Flash's various tools. Beyond that, the real power of Flash comes from being able to use its own programming language known as ActionScript. ActionScript is an object oriented programming (OOP) language that allows a developer to control everything in the Flash environment with just a few lines of code. Competent Flash developers are capable of programing simple to complex applications from start to finish using ActionScript and deliver a final executable, .swf or movie file to a client in a timely manner.
Compensation
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According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the compensation that Flash developers and other specialized computer programmers can expect to receive varies significantly depending upon specialization and geographic location. In 2008, the median income for workers in these categories was $85,430 per year, and the job outlook is exceptional and expected to grow faster than normal in the future.
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References
Resources
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