The leap between Flash 4 and Flash 5 was remarkable in terms of Flash programming - ActionScript. ActionScript changed from a limited language into a language that is transferrable and object-oriented, and threw many Flash developers off. At the same time, it attracted many new programmers and developers, who started to take Flash seriously. Luckily for all the Flash designers and developers out there, one book managed to harness the power of ActionScript, and explain it to the masses. And there is no expert who can do this better than Colin Moock.

This book, commonly referred to as the ASDG, quickly became the standard reference for ActionScript. The ASDG has become the quintessential "Bible" for Flash programmers of varying degrees of excellence. And how it became the standard is no mystery. Let's look inside.

Colin explains the fundamentals of programming in general. He explains conditions, variables, functions and organizing your code, along with the code to support these explainations. Objects that are specific to Flash (such as the Movie Clip) are also described.

The ASDG also works as a reference. This book covers ActionScript from A to Z: providing the action, an explaination of what it does/how it works, and also an example of the action in a working code block. Colin puts all the pieces together at the beginning of the book, so it is easy to refer to this section when you require the specifics.

It is also nice to have useful examples throughout the book as well. Littered throughout the ASDG are preloaders, XML socket chats, and other useful tidbits.

Finally, what is remarkable about this book is the lack of errors and thoroughness of covering programming and ActionScript. This level of quality is supposedly what you get from not only a great author, but quality great editing/technical team, publisher and attention to detail. This book does not feel rushed. I am glad to see this book as popular and highly regarded by Macromedia and the community as it is, as it is certainly deserving of such respect.

Because of the high quality, errata that is far and few between, and the highly useful nature of this book - it receives

(5/5).