C/C++ to Flash Compiler

As an example of the complexity of this project, the engineers ported the C++ version of Quake 1 engine into Flash Player and it worked perfectly and performed well. It is an extreme case but showcased the potential of this project.

[flv:http://media.brajeshwar.com/v/games/quake4-intro.flv 640 360]

The Quake 4 Intro video is here just to serve as an eye-candy.

While browsing around Flash/Flex blogs, I stumbled on an interesting article from Ted — Extending Adobe Flash Player and Adobe AIR with C and C++ via ActionScript 3.

The interesting thing as told by Ted was that Adobe’s Engineers are working on an internal project which is sort of a cross-compiler for ActionScript allowing any c/c++ code to run in the Flash Player or Adobe AIR. This is a rather nerve racking feat and Ted have already written of many interesting implications for extending Adobe’s platform in terms of legacy code, programming languages, and other open source code libraries.

Part of this implementation includes a pattern in ActionScript that allows for “green threading” that supports executing synchronous code in the asynchronous ActionScript virtual machine. The work done here is quite groundbreaking and has highlighted quite a few performance improvements in the current virtual machine while expanding the capability of the platform.

Adobe engineers and hackers have ported the C++ version of Quake 1 engine into Flash Player and it worked perfectly and performed well. This is extreme engineering and an utmost over-the-top expectation from the Flash Player. What if multiplayer games can be played without even downloading a piece of it, right off the browser, have all the office tools working flawlessly right inside your browser — well, it is rather limitless of what you can do; think of it and it might just be possible.

Brajeshwar posted this article on Thu, Feb 28th, 2008 at 1:19 pm
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Joa Ebert February 28th, 2008 at 1:44 pm 1

Do you know about Jake2? Google it and get impressed. Because that is already what you are talking about — multiplayer Q2 using OpenGL without a real installtion etc.
Tim February 28th, 2008 at 4:26 pm 2

Honestly, the above Quake 4 trailer is completely unrelated to the article and might be misleading.
Brajeshwar February 28th, 2008 at 4:31 pm 3

Sorry Tim. You’re right and I’ve added a note that the video is just for eye-candy!
Luke February 28th, 2008 at 9:19 pm 4

“C/C++ to ActionScript compiler” might be a bit pulled out of proportion. As far as I know there is no ActionScript of any kind involved. The compiler compiles C/C++ code to AVM2 byte code, which has nothing to do with ActionScript at all.
zproxy March 2nd, 2008 at 4:59 pm 5

Related to that; there is some effort done to convert c# binary to actionscript 3 source. Have a look at jsc.sf.net.
fatou April 16th, 2008 at 2:30 pm 6

Can someone tell me how to retrieve this compiler or any sample of how using an application (or a c++ dll) in an actionscript. thanks for help!!
jules July 16th, 2009 at 10:19 am 7

C++ -> AVM, it’s only ground breaking for Adobe and the Flash Player, the once Macromedia Director now Adobe have had C++ support in “Xtras” for years in the shockwave player. I’m guessing the C++ to AVM proto stuff for Flash is in prep for the next pahse of Flash which will be to use the “Xtras” route.