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.