Building a new Flash (bill.newgrounds.com)

Article summary

A developer is creating a new version of Flash, a 2D animation authoring tool, from scratch in C# with Avalonia and SkiaSharp, aiming to make it compatible with Linux, Mac, and PC. The tool will have features such as a drawing engine, timeline, shape tweening, symbol library, and scripting. The developer has also started a Patreon to support the project and plans to make it open-source. The goal is to create a full authoring environment that can import and edit old Flash files.

Main themes

• Flash revival
• 2D animation tools
• Open-source software
• Compatibility and portability
• Authoring environments

What commenters say

• The decline of Flash was largely due to Adobe's and Apple's actions, rather than any inherent flaws in the technology.
• The new Flash project's ability to import and edit old Flash files is a significant advantage, but its success depends on its ability to push the technology forward.
• Some commenters believe that the project's focus on compatibility with old files may not be enough to make it useful for modern applications, such as web development.
• Others argue that the project's open-source nature and potential for community involvement could make it a viable alternative to proprietary tools like Adobe Animate.
• There are differing opinions on whether the project can replicate the ease of use and collaboration that made the original Flash popular among developers and artists.
• Some commenters think that the project's success will depend on its ability to provide a modular and flexible architecture, allowing users to integrate it with other tools and frameworks.