Adobe® AIR® is a multi-operating system, multi-screen
runtime that allows you to leverage your web development skills
to build and deploy rich Internet applications (RIAs) to the desktop
and mobile devices. Desktop, television, and mobile AIR applications
can be built with ActionScript 3.0 using Adobe® Flex and Adobe® Flash® (SWF based). Desktop AIR applications
can also be built with HTML, JavaScript®,
and Ajax (HTML based).
You can find more information about getting started with and
using Adobe AIR at the Adobe AIR Developer Connection (http://www.adobe.com/devnet/air/).
AIR enables you to work in familiar environments, to leverage
the tools and approaches you find most comfortable. By supporting
Flash, Flex, HTML, JavaScript, and Ajax, you can build the best
possible experience that meets your needs.
For example, applications can be developed using one or a combination
of the following technologies:
Users interact with AIR applications in the same way that they
interact with native applications. The runtime is installed once
on the user's computer or device, and then AIR applications are
installed and run just like any other desktop application. (On iOS,
a separate AIR runtime is not installed; each iOS AIR app is a stand-alone
application.)
The runtime provides a consistent cross-operating system platform
and framework for deploying applications and therefore eliminates
cross-browser testing by ensuring consistent functionality and interactions
across desktops. Instead of developing for a specific operating
system, you target the runtime, which has the following benefits:
Applications developed for AIR run across multiple operating
systems without any additional work by you. The runtime ensures
consistent and predictable presentation and interactions across
all the operating systems supported by AIR.
Applications can be built faster by enabling you to leverage
existing web technologies and design patterns. You can extend web-based
applications to the desktop without learning traditional desktop
development technologies or the complexity of native code.
Application development is easier than using lower-level
languages such as C and C++. You do not need to manage the complex,
low-level APIs specific to each operating system.
When developing applications for AIR, you can leverage a rich
set of frameworks and APIs:
APIs specific to AIR provided by the runtime and the
AIR framework
ActionScript APIs used in SWF files and Flex framework (as
well as other ActionScript based libraries and frameworks)
HTML, CSS, and JavaScript
Most Ajax frameworks
Native extensions for Adobe AIR, which provide ActionScript
APIs that provide you access to platform-specific functionality
programmed in native code. Native extensions can also provide access
to legacy native code, and native code that provides higher performance.
AIR dramatically changes how applications can be created, deployed,
and experienced. You gain more creative control and can extend your
Flash, Flex, HTML, and Ajax-based applications to the desktop, mobile
devices, and televisions.
For information about what is included in each new AIR update,
see the Adobe AIR Release Notes (http://www.adobe.com/go/learn_air_relnotes_en).
