Spark is a set of UI and layout components that uses XML for skinning and application mark-up. It’s lightweight, carefully thought out (it’s been in pre-alpha for 6 years so you’d hope so) and definitely a work in progress. I know, I should be using Flex (and I do) but the mad scientist in me just can’t stop tinkering.

Check it out here.

Feedback more than welcome.

I’m going to put that complete lapse in communication down to a couple of things. First there was a period of craziness at work involving pitches, projects spiralling out of control and such. As a result (and for various other reasons) I’ve resigned, which in turn brought about a frantic scramble to polish off the old CV and finally get a portfolio online (you build websites all these years but never make one for yourself).

To cut a long story short, I’ll be a full time freelance/contractor starting July 4th, which will mean much more activity here in the form of samples, examples and tutorials. Looking forward to the fresh air.

It’s been fun getting to know Maya again – it really is an amazing piece of software both from an output and user interface point of view. Concealing such an awesome array of tools and functionality behind an intuitive user interface is a feat in itself. It’s inspired me to brush up on my skills and try to marry it with my interactive work. I’ve been experimenting a lot in PaperVision3D lately (more on this later) so I’m sure it’ll come in handy.

I’ll post the animations when they’re finished (if I’m allowed). In the meantime, check out this amazing animation I found on my travels around the internet today:

MUTO a wall-painted animation by BLU from blu on Vimeo.

Make sure you check out the webcam mode if you have one, it selects storied based on whatever you wave around in front of it. Frankie (our Staffordshire Terrier) fell in the top headline/blog category for some reason.

As tool makers Adobe and Microsoft have little to gain by pushing their platform on end users other than increased sales of the software used to create content for them. The recent announcements mean that, in Adobes case at least, the last vestiges of control over content authoring have been removed. Adobe seem confident in their abilities as supreme creators of authoring tools and opening the platform to all players affirms that belief.

I think Adobe realise the Flash player has evolved into something out of their control. They do have a vested interest in the continued advancement of the technology but they seem more focused on end users than shareholders in its evolution. I believe in the power of completely open software to succeed where others fail. But to shoot down a company that is succeeding admirable down an alternate path screams of stubbornness.

My name is David Peek and I’m a Flash Developer living and working in Sydney Australia. I’m completely addicted to technology, interactivity and user interface design. While I’m definitely a Flash Developer by title I try to maintain an active interest in all aspects of computing.

In some ways I’m a chronic Jack of all trades justified, I hope, by mastery of one. I frequently dapple in Ruby on Rails, PHP, Python, graphic design, animation, programmatic motion, Apple Scripting, Maya, After Effects, ProTools, Cocoa, system administration, percussion, trombone, guitar, piano, French, Spanish, bee keeping… you get the idea.

I’m certainly not highly skilled in any of these areas. The fact is I’m completely addicted to the initial discovery phase of learning a new skill and not the practice-makes-perfect phase required for expertise. It feels like a terrible waste of enthusiasm, but we’ve all got to have a hobby. Mine is learning.

So what is this blog all about? Firstly, I need to work on my communication skills. I’ve always been much better at lurking around the Flash community than contributing to it and I’m beginning to feel like my writing skills are getting rusty. Secondly I hope it will serve to consolidate that myriad of interests into something resembling expertise – it’s much easier to move forward with something with a record of what you already know.

Anyway, here’s hoping!