Questions for all Macromedia Flash and Software Developers.

[Crazy_Mack]

I'm looking into changing to a different area of computers, but need more information about some areas of interest.

1) To those who program Flash animations, are you actually working for a company or are you freelancing? Also, what skillsets do you consider important aside from knowing how to program in Flash? For instance, I forsee an advantage in knowing how to use Paint Shop Pro when working as a Flash animator.

2) Are there any developers out there that write software for companies that sell their software in stores (non-games)? If so, what skills do you consider important (For instance, I could see knowing Visual C++ important in this case)? What do companies call programmers that write this type of software? What is that area of programming called? How do I find this type of job? I've always worked in IT, so it's all I know how to find. I'm not sure how to find a non-IT programming position.

All input and advice is appreciated. I still like programming and working with computers, but I really want to do something outside of IT - and even more ideally, a computer job of some type that minimizes the likelyhood of after-hours work (true, that might be a stretch).

Thanks!

[thebrownshow]

2) Are there any developers out there that write software for companies that sell their software in stores (non-games)? If so, what skills do you consider important (For instance, I could see knowing Visual C++ important in this case)? What do companies call programmers that write this type of software? What is that area of programming called? How do I find this type of job? I've always worked in IT, so it's all I know how to find. I'm not sure how to find a non-IT programming position.

If you're looking for a NON-IT programming position, what is an IT programming position?  I've always considered IT to be the guys who put a network together or rebuild servers, but maybe that's just my perception as a developer.

As far as Software Development is concerned, it's not just about boxes on shelves.  There's a whole hell of a lot of software out there that isn't sold in stores, or directly sold at all.  Lots of big companies have entire software teams that just write apps for internal use.  As far as what "skills" you're talking about, well, it depends on what you want to get into.  Any developer worth his/her salt can pick up another language.  Software Engineering is all about a certain way of thinking, not what language you do it in.  Take some programming courses.  Pick up a book.  Just program, it really doesn't matter what you learn, but most will tell you that you can't go wrong with C/C++, since most other stuff seems to be derived from that.

Most software guys are usually some type of "Developer" or sometimes "Software Engineer".  Easiest way to see what jobs are out there is to just look.  Check out monster or careerbuilder and see what people are looking to hire.  At this point, as far as I can tell, the industry has settled down a bit, and there doesn't seem to be anything "HOT" right now, so anything you see today will likely be in need in a year or two as well.

[Dartful Dodger]

I work with Flash all the time.  It's a great program for animators.  I'm a programmer and I write actual functions for Flash maybe twice a year.  Once a function is written it's easy for the animators at my company who don't know or write code at all to copy and paste those functions in.

For job designing in Flash, knowing Paint Shop Pro is as useful as knowing the Pac Man pattern.  The company I work for just got rid of our graphics only guy.  He could create great vector files in Illustrator, but he couldn't get his head around animating.  It's cheaper and quicker for our company to buy vector clip art CDs or hire cheap/free art student interns.

Don't feel bad, it's only a matter of time before my job is being done by 13 year olds in India.

[RayB]

Ummm I am a Flash freelancer. I do both programming and animation (and game development too).

There are three kinds of Flash users:

• ARTIST
• PROGRAMMER
• BOTH

It sounds like you fall into the programmer category. I wouldn't recommend you go into Flash expecting to do animation, which is primarily an ART skill. Yeah ok, some stuff can be programmed, but you kind of need to have that artistic "sense" (which is for people who fall into category 3, "both").

I have both art skills and "logic" skills dating back a couple decades, so that's how I've settled into both sides, but most people do one, the other, or do both with one skill being weak. (Like a designer learning just enough scripting to get some interactivity working, or a programmer learning just enough art stuff to get so-so looking graphics up).

OH and since Flash is kind of WEIRD in the way it does things, it really helps to be the kind of person that can VISUALIZE objects, hierarchy, relationships, etc...

[Crazy_Mack]

As far as Software Development is concerned, it's not just about boxes on shelves.  There's a whole hell of a lot of software out there that isn't sold in stores, or directly sold at all.  Lots of big companies have entire software teams that just write apps for internal use.  As far as what "skills" you're talking about, well, it depends on what you want to get into.  Any developer worth his/her salt can pick up another language.  Software Engineering is all about a certain way of thinking, not what language you do it in.  Take some programming courses.  Pick up a book.  Just program, it really doesn't matter what you learn, but most will tell you that you can't go wrong with C/C++, since most other stuff seems to be derived from that.

RayB got it right. I'm already a professional programmer who's working in the IT department of a wireless company, and I'm just bored to death with manipulating "information". Everything I create is ultimately something that runs in the background and goes completely unseen. But when it goes wrong, I can be paged at 3:00am to fix it.

I want to be working with something that can be seen - something that allows me to work with my creativity. Obviously, working with Flash or doing something involving Windows software offers that type of opportunity (no one calls the programmer at 3:00am if a Windows program crashes), but all I seem to be able to find as far as job openings are concerned are more of what I'm already doing - working with software and data no one sees, has an appreciation for, or cares about (short of the customer the data refers to). It's occurred to me that I might not be searching under the right category when looking for available computer jobs - which is why I'm looking for more information.

I already have both Macromedia Studio MX, and Microsoft's Visual Studio (the latter of which I can already program in). If I can find some extra time, I intend to teach myself Flash . But I need an understanding of what other skills I might need in addition to Flash (art skills are obvious).

Thanks.

[Boris the Spider]

Most of what everyone has said is pretty sound advice.  I can tell you from my experiences that you defintely want to go on the engineering side of Flash if you want to be in demand. btw...at my company, their called Flash Development Engineers. I usually see just one artsit vs several programmers on web development teams. The artist's work is, for the most part, done after the site is designed. It's up to the programmers to maintain and update content as neccessary.

These days, there's a big demand for XML and OOP (Object oriented programming) usage in Flash.  C++ will get you on the right path for learning OOP methods and syntax.  You could jump write into learning actionscript as scripting languages are generally much less robust and easier to learn than full brown programming languages, but the foundation of knowing C++ or similiar will make learning actionscript a breeze.

Pick up a book on XML usage in Flash...I know there's a couple that exist and it's not complicated to learn.

I'll also mention that Adobe Photoshop is more of an idustry standard tool than Paint Shop Pro for bitmap based editing.  Adobe llustartor for vector editing as someone already mentioned.

Good Luck!

[RayB]

I already have both Macromedia Studio MX, and Microsoft's Visual Studio (the latter of which I can already program in). If I can find some extra time, I intend to teach myself Flash . But I need an understanding of what other skills I might need in addition to Flash (art skills are obvious).
Thanks.

OK well then the type of work you could head towards is the development side of complex Flash sites. You'd be looking for jobs in the interactive departments of ad agencies, or web design agencies.

These kinds of projects usually involves a designer, a programmer, and usually also a producer/project manager and strategist. For big projects a "lead" is required too to architect the structure of building complex Flash (it could be the same programmer, depending on the size of the project and team).

Coming from a C background, you already should have the logical problem solving and structured thinking required to plan out projects like that. I guess what you need is:

 - Familiarize yourself with Flash interface
 - Familiarize yourself with Flash graphics... how they are handled; how they behave; etc
 - Familiarize yourself with the various "unique" ways Flash can accomplish things.
 - Get your mind into the "paradigm" of Flash's hierarchical way of doing things. (ie: script CAN be scattered all over the place if you wanted to... this is the single hardest thing for pure programmers to get used to... )

That's it really. Photoshop is handy but not required.