I previously mentioned that I'd be presenting a MegaLab session at MAX this year. The session is titled Getting Started with Real-Time Flex and AIR via LiveCycle Data Services, and it'll be a massive bring-your-own-laptop hands-on event where we'll build Flex and AIR apps powered by LiveCycle Data Services, BlazeDS, and ColdFusion. The idea is to give you first-hand experience building apps that leverage messaging, push, data synchronization, online/offline processing, and more. We'll make sure your laptop is configured and ready to go (you'll get setup instructions a few weeks before MAX, and we'll have techies present on the day to help you, too), and you'll walk away with knowledge, and a fully working environment of your own. Fun stuff!

But, as we've started to plan the content, we've determined that 90 minutes is just not enough time, and so the MegaLab sessions (all three, including mine) are now 3 hours long! (Well, 3 1/2 hours actually, but we'll give you a 30 minute break in the middle).

The MegaLab room will accommodate at least 200 attendees, so there will be plenty space for you and your laptop. But, these sessions are already being signed up for, so don't miss out on this MAX first, and register now!

San Diego Department of Child Support Services (SDDCSS) has been using ColdFusion for years, and they have built and deployed innovative systems that truly do make a difference in the lives of children and their families. They've now built a new version of their solution, this time using ColdFusion and LiveCycle Data Services on the backend, and Flex and AIR on the client.

SearchSOA.com is running a story on this project entitled Adobe Integrated Runtime (AIR) melds with ColdFusion - builds calendaring system for child services agency, and explains in detail why ColdFusion was chosen, why it is still the platform of choice, and how ColdFusion is being used in conjunction with AIR and Flex.

As has been previously noted, AMF is the preferred method of communication between applications running in the Flash Player and server back-ends. ColdFusion developers have long benefited from AMF being built into the core ColdFusion server. And Java developers have been able to obtain AMF support via BlazeDS and LiveCycle Data Services.

But what about PHP developers? There are several 3rd party options for PHP AMF support, including AMFPHP, WebORB for PHP, SabreAMF, and AMFEXT. Thus far there has been no official support from Adobe for our friends using PHP, but that is about to change.

Zend and Adobe are working together on a proposal that would add AMF support to the popular Zend framework, and some details have now been posted on the Zend Framework Wiki. The project is being led by Wade Arnold who also runs the AMFPHP project.

Of course, if PHP developers really want to experience productivity, we invite them to try ColdFusion and experience its Flex and Flash integration. But, even if they opt not to do so, I'm glad that they'll still be able to leverage AMF to build their Rich Internet Applications.

Oh, and Adobe is also a platinum sponsor of the Zend Conference this year.

I'm about to head out to Lansing to present at <michigan:FlexCamp>, my shortest commute for any FlexCamp to date. I'll be covering Flex, AIR, LiveCycle Data Services, BlazeDS, and of course some ColdFusion.

We'll be debuting a new session format at MAX North America this year, the MegaLab. I'll be presenting one, a getting-started crash-course session on LiveCycle Data Services and BlazeDS entitled Getting Started with LiveCycle Data Services on Monday, November 17, 2:00 pm - 3:30 pm. I've posted details on the official MAX blog. This one is expected to sell out pretty quickly, so if you want to take part, sign up now!

I just confirmed that I'll be speaking at the upcoming FlexCamp on the Michigan State University campus in East Lansing on July 30th. I plan to present an opening session on Flex, AIR, Data Services, and more. For more details and registration information, see the FlexCamp site.

ColdFusion 8 includes LiveCycle Data Services 2.5, and the instructions we've provided on getting CF to use the about-to-be-released LCDS 2.6 leave much to be desired. Joshua Rodgers has written a superb step-by-step post on getting this all working. [Via Ryan Stewart].

At Scotch on the Rocks this week, Adam Lehman and I chatted about ColdFusion, Flex, and LiveCycle Data Services (LCDS for short). We spent quite a bit of time on the latter because when I polled the crowd of 150 or so, only 3 raised their hands when asked who'd looked at LCDS. That's a shame, as LCDS is tightly integrated with ColdFusion 8 and can even be seamlessly installed along with ColdFusion 8, and few ColdFusion developers have taken the time to figure out the value that LCDS bring to the table, and especially the value of the Data Management Services. Which is why we spent time on the subject in Edinburgh, and why I focused on it in recent presentations in D.C., Toronto, Atlanta, and more. So I was really pleased to see that Adobe TV posted my Understanding Data Management Services session today, it's not ColdFusion specific, but it does explain the basics.

I just presented an opening session at WebManiacs in D.C. in the magnificent auditorium at The Carnegie Institution. Less than a handful of those present had any experience with Data Services, and so I spent the bulk of the time on LCDS, BlazeDS, data management services, and more. If you have yet to tinker with Data Services, you may want to check out Christophe Coenraets' LCDS Test Drive and BlazeDS 30 Minute Test Drive.

LiveCycle Data Services 2.6 is now in public beta. The update includes better support for Flex 3, support for AIR offline storage and data management, improved performance, and more. And yes, it can be used with ColdFusion. You can get LCDS 2.6 beta from Labs.

With the big announcement of the release of open source BlazeDS on Labs, ColdFusion users have been trying to figure out which option is better for them - the full LiveCycle Data Services (LCDS) which is included with ColdFusion 8, or the new open source BlazeDS option.

BlazeDS is, for the most part, a subset of the full LCDS. It supports remoting and messaging, and it can be used with ColdFusion. And it's free. However, BlazeDS does not support data management (including the data synchronization functionality) which is one of the most appealing aspects of LCDS for ColdFusion users.

ColdFusion 8 can be installed with an embedded LCDS engine. If a license is provided then it is a full LCDS implementation, otherwise it is LCDS Express which has a single CPU license restriction.

So, should ColdFusion users stick with the integrated LCDS or use the new open-source BlazeDS?

If all you need is messaging (the ability to push from ColdFusion to the client), then BlazeDS may be a better option, if for no other reason than there is no license to worry about. But, if data management is important then LCDS is the better option.

One of my responsibilities to MAX is track manager for the web development sessions (which includes all ColdFusion sessions). In this capacity I help to decide the track contents, choose presenters, review and critique content, and in general help to ensure that we're presenting the content attendees need and want. As this also means that I get to see the content before just about anyone else, I thought I'd use the opportunity to highlight specific sessions that I think may be of interest to you. So, in what is the first of planned infrequent postings, here is one for you to seriously consider:

Tom Jordahl has been part of the ColdFusion team for a long time (he is the only team member who has been there longer than I have), and he leads the ColdFusion engineering effort. He worked on the ColdFusion Flex integration as well as the ColdFusion event gateways, and is thus the perfect choice to discuss ColdFusion's integration with LiveCycle Data Services (LCDS, previously Flex Data Services).

LCDS integration was first introduced in ColdFusion 7.0.2, allowing ColdFusion developers to incorporate messaging, push, and data synchronization capabilities into their applications. ColdFusion 8 enhances this integration, and even supports a single integrated high-performance installation of both ColdFusion and LiveCycle Data Services.

If you are curious about LCDS and what it means for ColdFusion developers, this you should make sure to attend Tom's Using ColdFusion With LiveCycle Data Services session (which runs twice, Monday 2:00pm and Tuesday 4:00pm). In one hour you'll get the authoritative scoop on all you need to know on this subject.