as3-signals

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h1. Signals: Think Outside the Event.

Signals are light-weight, strongly-typed AS3 messaging tools. Wire your application with better APIs and less boilerplate than AS3 Events.

h2. Concept

• A Signal is essentially a mini-dispatcher specific to one event, with its own array of listeners.
• A Signal gives an event a concrete membership in a class.
• Listeners subscribe to real objects, not to string-based channels.
• Event string constants are no longer needed.
• Signals are inspired by "C# events":http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/C_Sharp_syntax#Events and "signals/slots":http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Signals_and_slots in Qt.

h2. Syntax

// with EventDispatcher
button.addEventListener(MouseEvent.CLICK, onClick);

// Signal equivalent; past tense is recommended
button.clicked.add(onClicked);

I am still looking for impressions, critiques and suggestions.
My email is robert at robertpenner.com. I'm "@robpenner on Twitter":http://twitter.com/robpenner.

h2. Background on AS3 Events

• "My Critique of AS3 Events - Part 1":http://flashblog.robertpenner.com/2009/08/my-critique-of-as3-events-part-1.html
• "AS3 Events - 7 things I've learned from community":http://flashblog.robertpenner.com/2009/09/as3-events-7-things-ive-learned-from.html
• "My Critique of AS3 Events - Part 2":http://flashblog.robertpenner.com/2009/09/my-critique-of-as3-events-part-2.html