Macromedia announces "Flex"

Macromedia will share on Monday more details of its plan to get Java developers working with its Flash format. Flex will let J2EE developers create Flash applications using standard, text-based development tools, rather than the complex design-focused tools Macromedia sells, reports Cnet.

Just like the badly-named Flash Professional MX2004 is not aimed at the tradtionional core Pro audience Flash animators, but at people more likely to come from a VB or programming background, Flex is Macromedia's continuing attempt to broaden the base of Flash developers away from "eye-candy" and to real on-line applications.

Here's the official Macromedia press release.