setting up Flex Builder Linux alpha 3

how to meet all the requirements to and actually install Flex Builder on Linux.

install a JRE

if you are using a 64bit linux (like ubuntustudio e.g.) you'll still need a 32bit version of JRE!
at least that's what the Flex Builder release notes say.

get a 32bit Java Runtime Environment -> here (19MB)

I chose the self-extracting one named jre-6u6-linux-i586.bin
make it executable (chmod +x), run it, accept the license and it creates a directory like jre1.6.0_06

to have the Flex Builder installer actually find and use this JRE add it to your $PATH like:
export PATH=/opt/jre1.6.0_06/bin:$PATH

install Eclipse

again, make sure you get a 32bit version of Eclipse in case you're using a 64bit OS!

I chose to use Eclipse 3.3.2 Linux (x86/GTK 2)  -> here (138MB)
unpacking eclipse-SDK-3.3.2-linux-gtk.tar.gz should create a directory named eclipse

instead of messing with the ecplipse.ini file (like the Flex Builder release notes suggest),
I simply symlinked the JRE into the eclipse folder: ln -s /opt/jre1.6.0_06 /opt/eclipse/jre
just to be safe, you can run eclipse and see if it works.

download Flex Builder Linux alpha -> here (177MB)

you'll get a file like flexbuilder_linux_install_a3_033108.bin depending on the current version.

after making it executable, run it!
(make sure your JRE of choice is in $PATH - only needed once for the installer)

I chose /opt/Adobe_Flex_Builder_Linux as the install path
and of course /opt/eclipse as my 32bit Eclipse root folder.
also installed the JSEclipse Plugin, though I've no idea what it does.

if everything went alright, you can launch Flex Builder with the Adobe_Flex_builder.sh in its installation folder.
I recommend that you either adapt the script and "hardcode" the paths in it,
cause it wastes time grep'ing them every startup or use the simplyfied flexbuilder.sh one I attached.

either way, when you launch Flex Builder the very first time, it will ask for a workspace location, so choose one.
It won't look much like the Windows version of Flex Builder if you happen to know it so navigate to:
Window > Open Perspective > Other... > Flex Development and it should look more familiar.

now create whatever project via File > New...

unfortunatly I couldn't get rid of the "version not found" complaint when previewing in the browser,
so to properly run/debug the project uncheck:
Project > Properties > ActionScript Compiler > HTML wrapper > [ ] Generate HTML wrapper file
this will run SWFs in the debug player that came with Flex Builder

miss the output-window during debugging?
Window > Show View > Other... >  General > Console

targeting Flash Player 10

there's good documentation -> here

there aren't any debug- or standalone versions of Flash Player 10 yet, so you'll have to preview these projects in your browser.

have fun!

-> Adobe Flex 3 Help

TODO: get the browser preview working without complaints!

install Firefox (optinal)

like with the JRE and Eclipse you'll need a 32bit version of firefox if you're using a 64bit OS!

get Firefox -> here (9MB)

unpack firefox-2.0.0.14.tar.gz to a location of choice (in my case: /opt/firefox)

copy the debug-plugin:
cp /opt/Adobe_Flex_Builder_Linux/Player/linux/install_flash_player_9_linux/libflashplayer.so /opt/firefox/plugins/

symptom: a small empty window titled "Eclipse" appears in the center of the screen and never disappears, thus preventing the main Eclipse interface from loading.

solution: install pkg xulrunner - check /usr/lib/xul* - add to eclipse.ini
-vmargs
-Dorg.eclipse.swt.browser.XULRunnerPath=/usr/lib/xulrunner-1.9.2.7/xulrunner

symptom: dialogue box buttons don't react to mouse clicks

solutions: set GDK_NATIVE_WINDOWS=true before running eclipse.