So it’s been a few weeks since my last post, and I’ve got the new version of the Symbol-To-Frames command ready for release. The code is tighter. Less prone to bugs. Fewer calories. Tastes great. If you’ve already got it, I suggest getting it again as this version is better…

But before I send you to the updated Flash extensions link, I need your opinion. It’ll only take you 30 seconds, and if you don’t do it you will start kicking people in the head later on for not doing it. Including yourself. Friends don’t let friends kick themselves in the head. So read on or skip down to the survey link and take the 30-second survey. If you’re in a hurry, only the first 2 questions are required:

Flash Extension Version and OS Survey

Otherwise, read on. Here’s the current challenge:

I used to develop these extensions for Flash 8, before Flash CS3 arrived. And ever since CS3 was released, I switched over… figuring that as long as I stuck to the Flash 8 API command-set (don’t worry if this sounds mumbo jumbo, it will all get clear in a second), whatever extensions I built in CS3 would work in Flash 8. Not true. The Flash API is what makes building these extensions possible. And, er, impossible…

Fact: The Flash Extensions API is a tweaker. It’s more jittery than Grandma on meth. There are lots of bugs in the JSFL programming langauge itself, and while I can find ways to get around a lot of these… it takes a lot of time to do so. The real problem is that depending on which version of Flash you use, the bugs are different. And if that wasn’t tedious enough, the operating system you use can throw different bugs as well.

Here’s one potential solution: Develop for fewer platforms…

Stop developing for Flash 8, Macs, and/or older Mac & PC operating systems. That could be YOU. Either way, I decided to set up one of those survey monkey questionaires to collect the answers and make my decision. I’m doing the cheapo free version of Survey Monkey, so after the first 100 answers, it ends. (And I already emailed the awesome folks on my list, so time is running out!) So please, if you are reading this, take 30 seconds and answer a few very quick questions. In return, you’ll get cool free Flash extentions that work on your version of Flash. Here’s the link:

Flash Extension Version and OS Survey

Thanks for taking the time… and if you have any thoughts about extensions you’d like to see developed, there’s room for ideas on the survey.

Now then, the latest version of the FlashWhip SymbolToFrames extension only works with Flash CS3 (and it’s now available on the downloads page). If you want me to keep building for 8 or MX 2004, be sure to fill out the survey.