Adobe AIR

Adobe AIR

Adobe AIR is a cross-platform runtime that allows developers to build desktop applications using HTML, JavaScript and Adobe Flash. It enables creating desktop apps that work across Windows, Mac, iOS, and Android.
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desktop html javascript flash crossplatform windows mac ios android

Adobe AIR: Cross-Platform Runtime for Building Desktop Apps

Adobe AIR is a cross-platform runtime that allows developers to build desktop applications using HTML, JavaScript and Adobe Flash. It enables creating desktop apps that work across Windows, Mac, iOS, and Android.

What is Adobe AIR?

Adobe AIR is a cross-platform runtime environment developed by Adobe that allows developers to build and deploy desktop applications across platforms and devices using HTML, JavaScript, Flash and other web technologies. Some key features of Adobe AIR include:

  • Cross-platform support - AIR allows building applications that work seamlessly on Windows, macOS, iOS and Android from a single codebase.
  • Access to device capabilities - AIR provides access to device capabilities like accelerometer, camera, microphone etc. making it easy to build feature-rich apps.
  • Large set of APIs - AIR provides a comprehensive set of APIs for file system access, SQLite database, native extensions, cryptography and more.
  • Packaging as native apps - Applications built with AIR can be packaged as native installer files for various platforms and app stores.
  • Flex framework support - Adobe Flex applications can be built for desktop and deployed using AIR without browser plugins.
  • Wide adoption - AIR has been adopted by gaming firms, media companies, software tools providers to build cross-platform apps.

Overall, Adobe AIR leverages web technologies to build and deploy cross-platform desktop applications with access to OS capabilities across devices and platforms like Windows, Mac, iOS and Android.

Adobe AIR Features

Features

  1. Cross-platform desktop app development
  2. Built on HTML, JavaScript, CSS
  3. Integration with Adobe Flash/Flex
  4. Access to device capabilities like camera, microphone, sensors
  5. Packaged apps run natively without browser
  6. Single codebase across platforms

Pricing

  • Free
  • Open Source

Pros

Write once, deploy anywhere

Leverage web development skills

Rapid development and prototyping

Reuse code and assets from web projects

Access native device capabilities

Good performance compared to web apps

Cons

Limited adoption and user base

No longer actively developed

Flash dependency raises security concerns

Lacks features of native desktop frameworks

Not ideal for graphically intensive games

Discontinued mobile support


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