Introducing: Better-AS3-Collections!

Anyone programming in Adobe Flex using ActionScript3 has probably felt the need for a more featureful collections library:

1. The Flex built-in primitive collection types (Array, Object, and XML) are not related to each other in a useful way (Array extends Object, but Array is not an associative array). 
2. The built-in collection operations don't cover enough common use-cases.

Unlike some other attempts, better-as3-collections is not a port of the java.util.collections package. In fact, it doesn't set up a type hierarchy at all!

Why not?

• Interoperability. If you have existing code that uses Arrays and Objects, then moving to a new type hierarchy will by necessity involve a lot of casting and new Objects. Indeed, if you want to make use of Flex's GUI types, using Array is almost a requirement.
• Sugar. If your new collections framework doesn't inherit from Array or Object, you won't be able to use bracket syntax to retrieve items from or set items into the collection. 

Rather, it extends the functional style hinted at by Adobe's own Array: see the map() and filter() functions. My implementation draws heavy inspiration from the Ruby Hash and Array types. In spirit it's very related to this post by Bruce Eckel, who talks about extending the Flex collections types with more functional-style methods.

A more concrete introduction can be found on the project site: http://code.google.com/p/better-as3-collections/ .

Feel free to check out the unit tests for example uses, or just check out the source!

"The Myth" - First mix!

So here's the first mix with the new UAD-2 card! A new origin theory song called "The Myth".

The PSP VintageWarmer is still getting love on the main bus, but I'm now using an LA-2A on the vocal and an 1176 on the parallel drum bus comp. Also experimenting with the UA Pultec EQ to get Stephanie's vocals to sit right.

Let me know what you think!

http://epistemic.org/mp3/the_myth_mix_0.mp3

"All You've Got"

I've just finished a draft mix of yet another tune with Brian Vaughn. Have a listen:

http://epistemic.org/mp3/all_youve_got_mix_1.mp3


Gear Notes:

• Guitars through a Diezel Herbert into a Palmer DI
• Drums are still DKFHS 1.0
• PSP VintageWarmer on the drum and main buses

Mix Notes:

• I'm not too sure about the big volume drop at 2:12. I'm trying to push some dynamics into this mix but it feels a little too extreme right now.

More on this tune to come!

Latest collaboration with Brian

Have a listen to the first draft of "Alpha" here: http://epistemic.org/mp3/alpha_mix_0.mp3 . Read on for some details on the recording and mix:

Adding functionality to objects while maintaining object identity

I came across a cool design problem at work today, so I thought I'd share my approach to it. Let me know what you think!

Names of types have been changed to protect the guilty.

Old Research!

As part of moving to this new blogger system, I need to find a way to host my old research papers. I've decided to just add them all to this post, right here. Enjoy!

The Fresh Prince of Bel Air

Please have a listen to my latest collaborative effort with Brian Vaughn. Maybe we should tackle "Wild, Wild West" next?