Creating a backend - do I use Flash or Flex?

programming flash
1

I want to create a backend for a gallery I have created that runs off XML. However I am confused which to use: Flash or Flex? I have gotten used to Flash/AS3 now and it would have, I think, a much shorter development time building it in Flash as I wouldnt have to learn much new principles. Whereas I have never used Flex before so would have to learn it before I can develop.
If you show me that Flex is the only way to do this then I will of course teach myself it, but after researching I can’t get my head around the advantages of using Flex. Is it all about Flex being easier to set up communication through PHP to manipulate the XML? Is this really so hard in Flash?

Any thoughts, links, advice etc would be great, thanks.
dai2

2

Flex is still flash, it’s just a framework that extends flash and makes development of applications easier (faster). When you say you want to make a backend what exactly do you mean? Surely if it’s just an xml driven gallery the backend is pretty much done. Flex/flash is really the front-end part of a project, and the middletier to an extent.

Basically just use flash. Flex would probably be overkill for this project.

3

thanks for your reply

re: the backend, sorry i meant to say I want to create a UI for the backend. I want the client to be able to add and delete elements, edit details, upload images, change the order of images, login securely, etc.