Understanding Frameworks
It is important to understand what a framework is before you start using one for the first time.
The word “framework” is often misunderstood in the software development field. There are two different types of frameworks, one being application frameworks and the other being architectural frameworks.
For a more in-depth explanation of frameworks, refer to part 1 of Steven Webster’s series of articles at http://www.adobe.com/devnet/flex/articles/cairngorm_pt1_02.html.
Application Frameworks
Application frameworks usually refer to a set of libraries and classes used to implement the standard structure of an application. Flex 2.0 is a great example of an application framework. The Flex 2.0 Framework provides a set of rich class libraries that provide functionality for developers to create custom applications. For example, Flex 2.0 provides a competent framework that allows you to develop custom components to be reused in your Flex applications.
Application frameworks have become more popular with the rise of graphical user interfaces (GUIs), which seem to promote a standard structure for applications. Object-oriented programming (OOP) techniques usually are used to implement frameworks such as the unique part of an application that can inherit from preexisting classes in the framework.
Architectural Frameworks
Architectural frameworks refer to a set of tools that can be used to provide a structure where the business layer of the application can be defined. In other words, an architectural framework is the internal structure on which an application is built.
