Simple question, but perhaps hard to answer. I have broken the title question into three distinct questions in order to clearly identify what we are considering for options each time we build an GIS web application in Flex.
- What are the pros and cons of using the ArcGIS Viewer for Flex application as a starting point for GIS applications?
- What are the pros and cons of creating your own application from scratch using the ArcGIS API for Flex? Note: This would be a focused application. In this case it is not intended to be a reusable application from which other applications could be configured / built.
- What are the pros and cons of creating your own custom framework using the ArcGIS API for Flex from which multiple applications could be built? While the primary goal would be to build an application that meets the customers needs a secondary goal would be to have a reusable framework from which other applications can be configured / built, much like the Flex Viewer.
Unlike many other decisions the choice to use one method over the other is not an easily reversible one. Assume you will have to live with this decision for a very long time (years).
Best Answer
Ultimately, there is no easy answer to your question. It entirely depends on your requirements, time, and budget. Usually you will need to find a good compromise based on those three factors.