I forget why, but a few days ago I started doing some digging around with authentication in Zend_Amf_Server. I had figured that I would add an adapter to the Zend_Amf_Server::setAuth() method and that would be it. But I was wrong.

Zend_Auth is used to validate the login information that's passed along and the Zend_Acl checks to see if they have access. To make this work for a connection from Flex, you need to make an authentication adapter and add it (as well as a basic ACL) into your Zend_Amf_Server call.

Zend AMF is a PHP implementation of the AMF (Action Message Format) binary protocol within the Zend Framework. I had to implement a system to upload files that were a little different than what is typically used in Flash, so I built upon Zend AMF for my needs. Researching a little on the net, I found a solution that was simpler than I expected. Based on an article, I only had to make a few adjustments.

He shows a (brief) version of his setup - a gateway to be used as the endpoint for Flex to connect to, the VO properties and the class to handle the upload. On the Flex side, he includes the code to create the view and pass the upload off to the waiting PHP backend. If you want to see the full code, you can grab it here.

In this article I will explain how to build a simple adobe flex application that communicates with php using remote objects calls to the new AMF php implementation supported by adobe and called ZendAMF. In my example I will use Adobe Flex Builder 3, ZendAMF and a Apache web server with php support and mysql server on windows. If you do not have any available server with php (at least) you will need to install one on your machine. It's easy, nowadays you have many standalone installers that do everything, just look at the wampserver for example.

If you want to get started right away, you can download the source and get going. Otherwise, you can check out the rest of the tutorial to see how they build up their example. They show how to create the project, set up the Zend_Amf extension's configuration and creating the simple application that echos back a "hello world" sort of response based on a text field's entry.

In this upcoming version [of Flex Builder], a significant new set of features are being introduced to accelerate creation of data-centric applications with PHP on the server-side leveraging Zend Framework and Zend AMF. Prior to the public Beta later in the year, Adobe would like to invite a select group of PHP developers into a private pre-release program for Flex Builder.

The group would get a sneak peek at the upcoming features, work with the development team and help to make the product into something the community really can use. If you'd like to get in on the program, fill out this survey and they'll get in touch with you with more information.

Reading and posting to Extensible Markup Language (XML)-based services with Adobe Flex is easy. But what's even easier is using Adobe's Action Message Format (AMF) to send messages between the Flex client and the server. It's as easy to use as a method call on an object. This article shows how to set up an AMF service [so you can use this method] on your PHP web server using the Zend Framework and Zend_Amf.

As his example application, he sets up a contacts database he'll pull information from and insert data into from his Flex form. You'll need to already be familiar with working in a Zend Framework instance before you get started - he dives right into the code. Screenshots and code for both the PHP and Flex sides of things are included

Instead I'm mapping the variables explicitly in the Shockwave, I have no example of doing the reverse, ie sending an object from flash and populating. I'm however not going to use an ORM like Doctrine with the project I'm going to do here so that won't really be a problem. The main thing is that we can easily populate AS objects.

They include both the Flash code - connecting the Flash application to the PHP gateway - and the PHP code to create a Zend_Amf object and handle the Flash request. In their example, they call a User class to locate a user record.

One of the most useful concepts in software development is the practice of creating modular, reusable code. As a developer, you're likely familiar with the heartache of reinventing the wheel. Doing so is certainly sometimes necessary, but when it isn't, you would be well served by using plug-and-play components. [...] And, as of version 1.7, Zend Framework includes an extension for native Adobe Action Message Format (AMF) communication between Adobe Flash Platform applications and PHP.

Using this AMF support, Richard shows how to create a sample Flex application that stores data into a backend database, validates that the user is "real" (via a CAPTCHA) and lets the organizer of the event know that new information has been added to the application. You can see the basic workflow here. There's plenty of screenshots, code and explanations to walk you through every step of the way.

But after the partnership between Zend and Adobe things started to change and amfphp started to move forward to the Zend Framework... and in fact many developers were afraid about the real future of amfphp. But, as Wade said, the amfphp core will remain separated from the framework implementation ( a framework which I will never use however ), in order to have a shared core and 2 different branches for the implementation.

He notes, though, that he might be being a bit skeptical, but doesn't see things working out in their favor and that Zend_Amf will "win out" over the AMFPHP project and get the larger share of the backing from the larger companies.

Since PureMVC is my framework of choice I could not resist creating a simple demo connecting PureMVC to the new Zend_AMF.

The sample application just responds to a button click by displaying a message inside of a text container. You can download the source that includes both the Flex and PHP sides.

Last week we discussed the new Zend Framework extension and gave you a look inside its functionality. This week we take off where we ended last week, and delve into remote objects and Zend_Amf!

The tutorial walks you through the setup of a new project, the PHP code behind it and how to get the two talking back and forth through a RemoteObject. Screenshots and complete code are included.