Flash 4: The Introduction of ActionScript (and Logic)

It’s the summer of 1999, and the web is getting noisy. If you’ve visited a site lately, you’ve likely seen the "Get Flash Player" badge. But until now, Flash was mostly about linear animation. You’d draw a shape, move it across the timeline, and maybe add a 'Stop' or 'Play' action. But Flash 4 is a massive leap forward.

Logic in the Timeline

Macromedia has introduced what they're calling "ActionScript." It’s not a full programming language yet—it’s more like a collection of sophisticated macros—but it gives us the power to do things that were previously impossible without complex Java Applets or server-side CGI.

// Flash 4 ActionScript used a "point and click" editor
On (Release)
  Set Variable: "user_name" = "Guest"
  Go to and Play ("Welcome_Screen")
End On

We now have variables, if/else statements, and basic math. You can actually build a calculator or a shopping cart entirely within a Flash file.

The Streaming Vector King

The genius of Flash remains its vector nature. A complex, full-screen animation might only be 50KB because it’s just a set of mathematical instructions. On our 56k modems, this is the only way to get "TV-quality" animation on the web.

The Rise of the "Flash Site"

I’m seeing a trend where clients want their entire website to be a single .swf file. I have mixed feelings about this—it breaks the "Back" button and is invisible to search engines—but the creative freedom is intoxicating. No more fighting with HTML tables and spacer GIFs. With Flash 4, the web designer is finally in control of every pixel.