Starting to code the application:

Seeing I am the only coder in our group, I get to code the app the way I want to. This may sound a little stubborn or selfish, but sometimes it is easier just to let one person code the application, and as the old saying states…”Too many cooks spoil the broth”, this relates as if we were to all code and then collaborate there would be conflicts of style and code. Also, I believe I am the only one in our group that is confident enough to code a multi-touch application.

So I began by deciding what environment I would be coding in. Originally I was going to be Flash CS3, as I am quite confident in Action Script 3, however, due to security settings working through the flash environment won’t allow me access to local files and directories. So I installed an eclipse based development kit called “Flex”. Flex allows me to use Action Script 3 and also allows me to access local files and directories, which is essential if I am to make a file browsing application.

So essentially what I wanted was the following…
- The users files displayed on screen using icons and names.

- If it was a folder then an opaque portal was drawn around it displaying the folders contents.

- Each folder within a folder to do as above, but scaled down to show the depth of the directory.

- The ability to scale a folder using the “pinch” functions of multi-touch.

- When scaled, the folders contents would scale accordingly.

- Drag and drop ability to copy and paste files and folders.

- Simple physics so the icon and folder objects would appear as real objects.

- A dragable, scalable but fully function FLV player to pay mp3’s and movies.

Although the above seems a little daunting, it will not be the most difficult concept to accomplish as once the functionality is down; I simply need to replace the triggering functions with the multi-touch triggers.

…and it begins…