Xml – In Flex, is there something like a ‘this’ reference for an MXML component

Here is a link to the mxmlc command line tool docs from Adobe and a direct link to the command line options reference. I also find mxmlc -help list to be a good place to start.

As another poster recommended, you really want to use library-path to add the path to the directory that contains the swc file. Use the += operator to make sure you don't overwrite the previous values

e.g.)

c:\flex_sdk_3\bin\mxmlc.exe -library-path+=lib coverflow.mxml

You have to chain your methods in a specific manner, you can easily do that in a following way (this code is not tested):

<mx:Application xmlns:mx="http://www.adobe.com/2006/mxml"
    preinitialize="onPreInitialize();"
    creationComplete="onCreationComplete()">
    <mx:Script>
        <![CDATA[

            private function onPreInitialize():void {
                addEventListener( "RemoteResourceLoaded", remoteResourceLoaded );
                loadARemoteResource();  
            }
            private function loadRemoteResource():void {
                // ...
            }

            private var _created:Boolean = false;

            private function onCreationComplete():void {
                // whatever you have here move it to the runTheApp() method...
                _created = true;
                runTheApp();
            }

            private var _resourcesReady:Boolean = false;

            private function remoteResourceLoaded(event:Event):void {
                // process your resources...
                _resourcesReady = true;
                runTheApp();
            }

            // this method will be called once the app is created
            // and once when your resources are loaded
            //
            // 1:
            // if app is created before resources are loaded its body
            // is not going to be executed as _resourcesReady flag is false
            // when resources are loaded it will then be called again
            // and the body will be executed
            //
            // 2:
            // if the resources are loaded before the app is created
            // (during debugging?) it's gonna be called once but the
            // _created flag is still false so the body is not processed
            // when creationComplete fires both _created is set to true
            // and method is called again, both conditions are true
            // and the body gets executed

            private function runTheApp():void {
                if ( _resourcesReady && _created ) {
                    // now the app is fully created and resources are loaded
                }
            }

        ]]>
    </mx:Script>
</mx:Application>

This shows the generic idea but I think it answers your question. It is generally the matter of waiting for the resource if it takes a long time to load and process creationComplete correctly if resource is loaded before creationComplete fires.

Hope this helps.