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Adobe AIR must be installed for a user to install and run
AIR applications.
Each AIR application runs in a separate process.
AIR applications are written using tools and languages used in
web development, including HTML, Ajax, Flex, and Flash. Adobe AIR
enables developers to use these to deploy rich Internet applications
that run on the desktop.
AIR runtime files and locations
Adobe AIR is installed to the following locations:
-
On Microsoft® Windows® —In the Program Files\Common Files\Adobe
AIR directory.
-
On Mac® OS® —In
the /Library/Frameworks/Adobe AIR.framework directory. (Also installed
are the Adobe AIR Application Installer.app and Adobe AIR Uninstaller.app
files, both added to the /Applications/Utilties/ directory.)
-
On Linux—In the /opt directory. AIR is installed as either
rpm or dpkg packages, with package names: adobeairv.n and adobecerts.
Installation requires a running X server. AIR registers the mime
type:
application/vnd.adobe.air-application-installer-package+zip
.
Adobe AIR is a runtime in which AIR applications run. It also
includes the AIR application installer, used to install AIR applications.
For information on installing and removing Adobe AIR, see
Adobe AIR installation
.
Data formats used
AIR applications are deployed as AIR files (files with
the .air filename extension). An AIR file is an installer file for
a specific AIR application.
When the user launches an AIR file (for example, by double-clicking
the AIR file), the runtime opens the AIR application installer,
which provides a graphical user interface for installing the application.
The application installer displays the identity of the application’s
developer (based on the developer’s certificate), if known.
The installed AIR application is added to a subdirectory of the
standard application directory (for example, a subdirectory of C:\Program
Files on Windows and /Applications on Mac OS). The installed application
directory includes the following:
-
A native executable file, which opens the application
in Adobe AIR.
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HTML and SWF files used by the application. (Each AIR application
is built using at least one HTML or SWF file). HTML and SWF files
developed for Adobe AIR may contain APIs specific to AIR, which
do not work in web browsers.
-
Other resources, such as images, style sheets, and other
media, used by the application.
AIR applications can access the local file system, and they can
write files (of any type) to directories for which the user has
write privilege.
Each AIR application is signed, and an installed application
cannot run if any files in the installed application directory do
not match the application’s signature.
Network protocols used
Adobe AIR applications can use the following network protocols:
-
HTTP
-
HTTPS
-
RTMP (Real Time Messaging Protocol)—a proprietary protocol
used with Flash Media Server to stream audio and video over the
web. The default connection port is 1935.
-
RTMPT—RTMP tunneling via HTTP. The default connection port
is 80.
-
RTMPS—RTMP tunneling via HTTPS. The default connection port
is 443. (For more information about using the RTMP protocols, see
HTTP Tunneling Protocols
.)
-
TCP/IP—Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol
-
UDP—User Datagram Protocol
-
FTP—File Transfer Protocol
-
SMB—Server Message Block. SMB is a message format used by
DOS and Windows to share files, directories, and devices. AIR applications
can access files from remote SMB shares.
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SSL—Secure Sockets Layer
-
TLS—Transport Layer Security
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