14 DAY TRIAL // There are many possibilities to jump over the barriers imposed by web browsers when you want to bring the web applications at the desktop level.
Rich Internet Applications can be developed using the actual technologies like AJAX, HTML, Javascript, CSS and more, and they can run in a web browser or as standalone desktop applications, without the need of a web browser presence. In this way, the web application will not be limited by a certain web browser functionality.
Adobe AIR is an operating system runtime that allows the integration of web-based applications based on AJAX, Flash, Flex and other web development technologies at the desktop level. The AIR applications can be developed by using the classic methods and tools and, at the desktop level, they present the behaviour of any other desktop application regarding the installation and running.
In order to develop and deploy Rich Internet Applications based on Adobe AIR, you will need to download and install the Adobe AIR runtime and Adobe AIR SDK, which contains all necessary tools like, icons, AIR APIs framework, command line utilities and more. You can also use IDEs, like Aptana Studio or visual development environments, like Dreamweaver in order to create AIR-based Rich Internet Applications.
Aptana Studio as development environment offers support for AJAX applications creation, and through a certain plugin it allows you to develop and deploy any type of Adobe AIR project. On the other hand, the Adobe AIR extension for Dreamweaver will help you to produce AIR applications directly from the user-friendly visual development environment of Dreamweaver. The Dreamweaver extension is offered in .mxp format and can be easily installed by using the Extension Manager feature.
In conclusion, for web developers, Adobe AIR provides the possibility to rapidly deploy desktop applications without the need of learning other types of programming languages. The impressive number of Adobe AIR applications development tools will allow the optimal combination of actual Internet technologies in fully functional desktop applications.