Adobe AIR Seminar

Rapid application development

Variety of development platform

Reusing code

Communication

Local data storage

Desktop application abilities

Technology overview

AIR vs. Web application

AIR application features

Application examples

Coding samples

Questions

Cross platform application runtime environment for installing and running desktop application

Rendering web content (webkit, AVM2, Adobe reader plugin)

Development tools (SDK)

Platforms supported: Windows XP, Vista, Mac

Future platform: Linux

19/3/07 Preview release, Flex extension

10/6/07 Renamed AIR, public beta release

1/10/07 Public beta 2 of AIR SDK

12/12/07 Public beta 3

25/2/08 AIR 1.0 released

31/3/08 AIR alpha version for Linux

Enhaced Browser capabilities

Gears (Google)

XUL, PRISM (Mozilla)

Silverlight (Microsoft)

JRE (Sun)

Feature RIA in browser RIA in Desktop Application delivery Applications can be easily discovered, explored, and used. Installed applications have more persistence, power, and functionality. Installation No application installation is necessary. Applications install seamlessly from the browser or download and install like a traditional desktop application. Updates Applications are updated by pushing new content to a website. AIR provides APIs that allow applications to be updated as easily as pushing new content to a website. Platform support Applications run on multiple operating systems and browsers. AIR applications are cross-platform, so they can be installed on and run on multiple operating systems. Programming languages JavaScript is provided by browsers and ActionScript™ is provided by Adobe Flash® Player. Integrated JavaScript and ActionScript virtual machines are compatible with the browser. Background capability RIAs can run only in a visible browser window. Applications can run in the background or provide notifications like traditional desktop applications.

Feature RIA in browser RIA in Desktop Persistence Activity is limited to the browser session. When the browser is closed, information is lost. RIAs are installed and available on the desktop. They store information locally and operate offline. Desktop integration Applications are sandboxed, so desktop integration is limited. Applications can access a desktop file system, clipboard, drag and drop events, system tray/notifications, and more. UI control RIAs run within a browser window that has its own controls, branding, and integration with the desktop. RIAs have a customizable user interface and desktop integration, enabling branded experiences. Data storage Applications have limited local storage, which the browser can destroy. Applications have unlimited local storage and access to a local database, plus encrypted local storage.

Developers with experience in Flash, Flex or HTML

Software

Flash

Flex

HTML Editing software

Open Source tools + SDK

AIR SDK

JRE

Check command line commands

Extension for commercial

Flash update

Flex 3

Dreamweaver extension

Seamless installation

Manual installation

Application install flow

AIR Update

AIR application update

Uninstall

Certification (development, commercial)

Verisign, Thawte

Database server via web services

Local XML file

Local SQLite database

Encrypted Local Store

Generic desktop application behavior

Always on top features

Status bar

Transparency

Docking option

Generic windows menus

Internal drag & drop behavior (Flash/Flex)

External Drag and Drop

Clipboard object

HTTP

Web services

SOAP

REST

Remoting

Simple HTTP calls

Binary socket

RTMP communication

File system classes

Open files for read/write

Open external applications

Display file content

Text

Images

Multimedia

Create new files (generic and custom encoders)

Clipboard availability

Clipboard, Icons, Drag & Drop management, updates Flash.desktop File descriptor and data Flash.Filesystem HTML content display, PDF, history Flash.HTML Working with SQL DB Flash.data Validation of signature Flash.security Browser, DRM and SQL events Flash.events