The goal of this manual is to provide a complete and in-depth guide to the Starling Framework. Starling is a cross-platform engine for ActionScript 3 that can be used for all kinds of applications, with a special focus on 2D games.
No matter if you only just discovered Starling or if you are an old veteran, you should get something out of this manual. It starts with the fundamentals and gradually moves on to advanced topics, covering everything you need to build high-quality 2D applications and games with Starling.
In this guide, you will learn:
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The background technologies Starling was built upon and the principles it follows.
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How to set up your development environment and create your first projects.
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How all the core concepts — like the display list, events, and the animation system — fit together in practice.
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Advanced techniques, including custom rendering with fragment and vertex programs.
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How to get the best possible performance out of the framework.
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What’s required to ship your applications on mobile phones and tablets.
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Practical recipes, tips, and extensions that go beyond the basics.
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The Starling Handbook
In the past, this manual was accompanied by a separate book called the Starling Handbook. It contained additional chapters that went beyond the scope of the original manual and was available for purchase. As of today, this distinction no longer exists: all former Handbook chapters have been fully integrated into this manual, which now serves as the complete and definitive Starling documentation — free for everyone. Feel free to download the original Handbook in its latest version here: Starling Handbook (PDF) |